August Newsletter

Issue 5, August 2014

Dear reader,

Welcome to the August issue of our newsletter focusing on The Art of Planning and Preparing for Meetings. Meetings are an important part of our modern culture and especially of our work in organizations. We have a number of articles looking at various aspects of meeting planning that we hope you will find helpful. The pictures we have chosen are of hands weaving baskets. For us the making of baskets and the preparation of meetings are very related - weaving together something that creates a useful and beautiful space. We hope you enjoy these articles and the related resources.

This month we are also starting a new feature called Highlights, where each week we will share a leading thought, article or resource on collaboration, leadership and school development that we have found helpful.

The community is still growing and we appreciate your participation. Please contact us if you have any questions or ideas that you would like to share or explore.

Michael Soule

LeadTogether

The Art of Planning and Preparing for Meetings

There are three kinds of meetings – social encounters, meetings to study and learn something, and meetings where people come together to accomplish a task. Each of these kinds of meetings has its own character, but some of the dynamics of each are present in every meeting. Meetings are an essential part …

The Art of Planning and Preparing for Meetings

The Art of Creating an Agenda

When teachers create lesson plans, they naturally consider: the rhythm of the day, the students’ capacities and their goals for the students’ growth and development. A good teacher is conscious of every little detail and aspect of the lesson. The consciousness put into planning helps the students relax, know what to expect and feel …

Working Together

by Chris Schaefer

We take a mystery of life for granted, the mystery of conversation. Reflect on how an impression in your consciousness—“the beauty of a San Francisco spring morning with the fog blowing offthe Bay”— is translated into concepts and then into audible speech, involving all the complex muscles of the throat and mouth.Your friend hears these words through the membrane of the ear and understands them, internalizes your thought and then speaks.

The Artistic Meeting: Creating Space for Spirit

by Holly Koteen

When Rudolf Steiner brought together the individuals who would become the teachers of the first Waldorf School, he asked them to work in a new way, not only with the children, but also with one another. He asked them to work together in such as way as to invite the interest and guidance of spiritual beings into their endeavor.

More Resources for Creating Effective Meetings

Creating Effective Agendas is an article offered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Urban Affairs in Ontario, Canada that is a helpful tool covering all the essentials of good meeting planning.

Tips for Creating Board Agendas is an article specifically focused on some issues that face only boards, including the difference between policy and operations issues.

Working Together as a Group to Improve your Meetings is a chart of insights and helpful tips developed by a group of colleagues years ago when they decided to try to improve their meetings.