Making Meetings Work

Ann M. Delehant is a caring educator and committed training and development professional. She is an experienced facilitator and staff developer, with deep school and district experience. Ann currently works as an independent consultant, serving as a facilitator, coach, trainer, and change agent. She addresses a variety of topics, including systems change, collaborative teamwork, coaching, facilitation skills, effective staff development practices, data/accountability, and long-range planning. She is frequently asked to serve as an external facilitator, assisting teams as they develop strategic work plans, solve problems, resolve conflicts, and make collaborative decisions. Ann recently completed training to develop skills as a life coach and is a founding member of Coaching School Results, Inc. is a caring educator and committed training and development professional. She is an experienced facilitator and staff developer, with deep school and district experience. Ann currently works as an independent consultant, serving as a facilitator, coach, trainer, and change agent. She addresses a variety of topics, including systems change, collaborative teamwork, coaching, facilitation skills, effective staff development practices, data/accountability, and long-range planning. She is frequently asked to serve as an external facilitator, assisting teams as they develop strategic work plans, solve problems, resolve conflicts, and make collaborative decisions. Ann recently completed training to develop skills as a life coach and is a founding member of Coaching School Results, Inc.Ann is an associate of W. P. Dolan and Associates, a management and labor consulting firm that specializes in deep systemic change and collaborative work. In this role, she works with Dr. W. Patrick Dolan, supporting board of education, district, and union leaders who are committed to long-term reform initiatives. Ann has notable state and national affiliations. She is a senior consultant for and served as a Trustee of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) and was a founding member of the New York State Staff Development Council. Ann received the NSDC Distinguished Service Award in 1996.

List of Handouts Foreword by Stephanie Hirsh Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Planning a Meeting 2. Getting the Group Started 3. Running a Meeting 4. Making Decisions 5. Taking Action Conclusion References Extended Readings Index

"Helps individuals who value people's time and wish to apply effective management skills to meetings. Identifies the critical issues to consider when convening people for the purpose of working together. Offers an introduction and explanation for each issue and brings the explanation to life through case studies, and by providing ready-to-use tools and strategies to promote implementation." -- From the Foreword by Stephanie Hirsh "When I need a resource to make my meetings more productive, I go to this book. The stories and tools help me understand and implement processes that make a difference in the work that we do as colleagues and that ultimately affect student learning." -- Jody Hoch, K-12 Director of Mathematics "Ann Delehant's work offers structures and tools that ensure that meetings are productive, respectful of people and their time, and result in high performance for staff and students." -- Karen A. Anderson, Leadership Coach and Consultant "Delivers just what the title promises; it is a comprehensive guide to planning and delivering meetings and evaluating their effectiveness. The depth of the explanations and direction of the book underscores the importance of really thinking about what we want to get out of a meeting and how to get there in an intentional way." -- Principal Magazine, November/December 2007