Inclusive and Impactful: Reinventing Your Library’s Meeting Culture

Meetings should be productive and have a purpose. Often staff members dread meetings and would rather do anything but attend them. This session will introduce and reaffirm various components of hosting and attending meetings. We will discuss group dynamics, active listening skills, conflict management, creating an inclusive environment, and communicating clear meeting guidelines, instructions, and outcomes. Attendees will be able to discuss methods to avoid and what works well at their library.

• Understand the core principles of productive meetings: Attendees will identify the essential components of purposeful and efficient meetings.
• Enhance active listening skills: Participants will develop techniques to engage fully and empathetically in meetings, ensuring all voices are heard.
• Navigate group dynamics effectively: Attendees will recognize and adapt to diverse group behaviors to foster collaboration and inclusivity.
• Develop clear meeting guidelines: Participants will design and communicate actionable agendas, instructions, and outcomes for impactful meetings.
• Evaluate organizational practices: Attendees will identify ineffective meeting habits and implement strategies to improve their library’s meeting culture.