MeetingArk | Site-Wide Activity https://meetingark.org/activity/ Activity feed for the entire site. Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:58:38 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 640dae5b7b69626c7814de494c9aeb7a Ron Eagle posted an update: Running a quick Site functionality test https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2034/ Sat, 25 Oct 2025 14:12:12 +0100 Running a quick Site functionality test

]]> 0 23f735b012f76276538bb559c47b30df AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Testing New Topic Creation Sept 2025 in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/testing-new-topic-creation-sept-2025/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:33:07 +0100 This is a test of a new topic creation via Desktop Sept 2025

]]> 0 8d0fcf58fc4ff634ccb7970db32ee749 RE Superflex 4.5in became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2031/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:33:07 +0100 0 baf94add62359161fb219a71e3403818 Elvia Minix became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2029/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 08:47:38 +0100 0 136c45e151cbb4fc927558c265d5eec7 ShelbyVes became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2028/ Mon, 23 Sep 2024 06:35:23 +0100 0 459c55dc7c4f93c9c464dd68b291b272 PhilipGlile became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2027/ Sun, 22 Sep 2024 19:49:40 +0100 0 2abd83df8ad652e1e8865b8ba0a73141 Ron Eagle wrote a new post https://meetingark.org/?p=16094 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:37:45 +0000 The 'Continuity' Meeting Ever been in a meeting where the only outcome was to agree more meetings? This may not have been an accident. In some circumstances, and/or some types […]

]]> c13aa0a41c1adf4764bb5237478f5cba Ron Eagle started the topic Most Unusual Meeting in the forum Meeting Humour https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-humour/forum/topic/most-unusual-meeting/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 13:25:09 +0100 Two fellow associate directors were told the need to be ‘extremely creative’ in order to get attention of a very bored and usually sarcastically disinterested set of executive directors they were due to present to in a monthly update session. So…they hired a pantomime horse outfit and planned to enter in that to ‘break the ice’ . Unfortunately,…[Read more]

]]> 0 d406bc61a2bf3f813bd2af8f68f3ee60 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Agenda in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/agenda/#post-4849 Sun, 10 Sep 2023 12:51:32 +0100 I agree – a 30 point agenda is not a recipe for an effective meeting. Meetings tend to fall into 2 broad categories: update advice with consequent  negotiations/ actions set or developmental where one or more concepts of situations are posed and creative discussions happen with actions agreed to progress those outcomes.  In either case, unless y…[Read more]

]]> 0 d654e35dabe9746e96cb4262972cb538 kieranfoley replied to the topic Agenda in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/agenda/#post-4243 Sat, 09 Sep 2023 14:36:23 +0100 Interesting points, Ron

I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the subject of setting an Agenda?

My impression is that successful meetings seem to follow an agenda which is ‘chunked’ in a specific way. There are not more than 3-4 broad areas to be covered, and each area never has more than 3-4 subsections, if any. Personally I find…[Read more]

]]> 0 d7b68f82db180774b24899ae50d568e8 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Ice-breaking in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/ice-breaking/#post-7155 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 22:07:28 +0100 Also, be careful of ‘forced’ ice breaking. For example where the group leader points to someone and makes them stand up and talk about something or themselves etc. This could be embarrassing and unless it is an addiction group  ‘sharing session’ may be inappropriate.

]]> 0 a9944e71204e77351c3cccf04db6732a Ron Eagle replied to the topic Agenda in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/agenda/#post-780 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:54:06 +0100 I agree with most of your points except the one about having a  new ’round robin’ on the expected outcomes. Outcomes for the session should have nee explicit beforehand and set for a specific purpose. Attendees should be aware of this beforehand too. Asking for ratification at the meeting of its purpose is a recipe for anarchy , time wasting and…[Read more]

]]> 0 ab9358155e1dd8a3566d0f8603d82546 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin replied to the topic Agenda in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/agenda/#post-763 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:46:59 +0100 Thank you, Ron

My personal experience is that  there seems to be a balance point for each meeting in terms of how specific the agenda points and outcome are. If the points are too detailed (twenty items for discussion in a 60 minute meeting) I have seen just the first five actually getting discussed…

I think you point about clarity of…[Read more]

]]> 0 cb1275549741f8734cc22e4e49442450 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin replied to the topic Ice-breaking in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/ice-breaking/#post-764 Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:51:54 +0100 Cheer, Ron!

Creating a welcoming space in the meeting room can have a surprising effect on enabling people to relax. One seminar I led had an interesting piece of feedback –

“I knew it was going to be fun because there was a beautiful display of flowers on the trainer’s table”

It is often the tiny details that make the most impact in…[Read more]

]]> 0 fd0d74753f28826b88e972b3c7cb2799 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Agenda in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/agenda/#post-759 Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:14:38 +0100 If you are leading a business meeting, you are responsible for managing a large number of people and actions and outputs. An effective meeting agenda will make sure you discuss all the necessary information, keep the meeting on topic and ensure  time efficiency.  The key essentials to creating then MANAGING a good agenda are:

  • Identify the m…

[Read more]

]]> 0 0c633f2e82f3c4ad78e633a1ca5e7f07 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Privacy & security in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/privacy-security/#post-750 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 22:32:23 +0100 Ensure you have a venue that si exclusively booked out and no interruptions form non attendees will happen.

Ensure you are only using secure networks during the session.

Ask for smartphones to be turned off.

(unless agreed in advance) Leave all papers behind, Meeting facilitator collect them to make sure and take all out of the room when leaving.

]]> 0 8a7f4d7cf168cacec6e9014d3fc154a2 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Agenda in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/agenda/ Sun, 03 Sep 2023 10:24:36 +0100 Are they needed? What happens if it is missing? How does one craft an Agenda that helps get meetings done?

]]> 0 187d2686c25e10873e7e287749eddd15 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Ice-breaking in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/ice-breaking/#post-751 Sat, 02 Sep 2023 22:43:09 +0100 Gauge how much ice needs breaking first before enacting  a strategy:

  1. Very stuffy staid serious ethos and attendees will probably be best thawed by traditional round robin of introductions around the table (not just names and titles…ask each to give a few minutes explaining what they do what their thought  contribution is on the project a…

[Read more]

]]> 0 41d9bf40353a1d163327aca3b649b208 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Ice-breaking in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/ice-breaking/#post-758 Sat, 02 Sep 2023 08:02:27 +0100 Try to have something welcoming at arrival: if a morning offer hot drinks and maybe bacon rolls (include vegan too ); if lunch then offer  maybe a buffet. This not only attracts attendees but allows some for some pre meeting mingling, ice breaking etc.  Regardless have at least one person responsible for welcoming the people arriving

]]> 0 7045489903f5aad975a471c0d2bab1f9 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Privacy & security in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/privacy-security/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:28:14 +0100 What are the best practices and issues around meeting privacy and security?

]]> 0 dcc3e3e5390ee829daa0d4a0f90e4c25 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Ice-breaking in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/ice-breaking/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:27:00 +0100 What are good approaches for breaking the ice in a respectful way?

]]> 0 2754638587e4248eaac19554a97da429 Michael Servant started the topic Companies with few meetings in the forum Meeting Companies https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-companies/forum/topic/companies-with-few-meetings/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:13:22 +0100 Sometimes companies with few meetings are juts unco-ordinated or unfriendly or worst just all too busy to communicate with each other … BUT sometimes it is deliberate: Reducing meetings that are not fully governed; keeping them short and action oriented; replacing small meetings with immediate actions etc.  Discuss.

]]> 0 6880764c56ab80d36f6e8ff0a8805787 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Setting expectations in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/setting-expectations/#post-754 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 22:50:05 +0100 Make it clear and concise at the commencement of the session what you want the outcome to be and say that this will be reviewed and tested at the end. For example…don’t say ‘this meeting is to discuss the situation with delays in the finance project’ or you will get hours of just that: discussion and be no further forward. In stead say, ‘the…[Read more]

]]> 0 89981a7e6fef41cd65e10b007c0f2095 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Setting expectations in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/setting-expectations/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:25:56 +0100 It is quite remarkable how often the people who have called the meeting do not set the appropriate expectations for what they want from the meeting. How can we avoid these issues?

]]> 0 7b795538aeb15e82894d5d93f1e4c256 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Worst Zoom Meeting of all time? in the forum Meeting Humour https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-humour/forum/topic/worst-zoom-meeting-of-all-time/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:50:46 +0100 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgGmYeAm0jk

The best bits of the extraordinary meeting of the Handforth Parish Council Planning and Environment Committee held on Thursday 10th December 2020 at 7:00​pm, the meeting was held using Zoom video technology.

]]> 0 6b610c1f8646dae44dda65d9c3651128 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Most Unusual Meeting in the forum Meeting Humour https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-humour/forum/topic/most-unusual-meeting/#post-1078 Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:25:36 +0100 Once was in an arranged  training session for senior UK Government Department managers: a very conservative group of individuals (I was attending as an interim director) where the HR department had arranged a session with a very wacky creative style set of management development consultants (no names to protect the ‘innocent’ …and us!! ha ha).…[Read more]

]]> 0 debac0b5f2bea2d53630bae2fc3bd940 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin replied to the topic Purpose and need in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/purpose-need/#post-6018 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 20:15:56 +0100 Thanks Ron, that’s really clear.

]]> 0 6a7e3640552c2ba29293cb5cb51b38e1 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Purpose and need in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/purpose-need/#post-4851 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:14:16 +0100 Criteria:

did you call it but wont be attending i.e. you’ve asked others to hold it? – why are you not attending? is is a low importance session you can delegate with confidence and whose impact will be small even if it goes wrong? If you cant answer yes then you should attend.

did you call it and you will be attending? – as above

did s…[Read more]

]]> 0 9e877bc0177d125c72537919c1f4f398 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin replied to the topic Purpose and need in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/purpose-need/#post-552 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:58:58 +0100 Hi Ron!

Thank you for these. I was wondering if you could expand on how specifically each of these factors could effect the focus of the meeting? Are there particular criteria that the person can use to help guide them in each of these circumstances?

]]> 0 3bc9e5372606ee8129d66dcf685f0a40 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin replied to the topic Meeting in a public space in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/meeting-in-a-public-space/#post-15916 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:09:14 +0100 Ron, you bring up an excellent point about the impact of the meeting’s context and attendee composition on the dynamics of large public meetings. It’s fascinating how the motivation for attendance can shape the level of difficulty in managing communication in such spaces.

Indeed, in gatherings with diverse motivations, where attendees come from…[Read more]

]]> 0 856ba42d6473e2af238aca08c3c12f8a Ron Eagle replied to the topic Meeting in a public space in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/meeting-in-a-public-space/#post-7157 Fri, 07 Jul 2023 22:24:21 +0100 The context of the meeting and make up of the attendees will mak all the difference. An open invitation gathering of people with divergent motivations will be far more challenging to facilitate cogent interactive discussions in a large open space than in a meeting with largely homologous minded attendees. In greatest contrast, imagine the…[Read more]

]]> 0 1ac93abda3675b2c8fc7c4bc0dbcb686 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin replied to the topic Meeting in a public space in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/meeting-in-a-public-space/#post-762 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 10:31:43 +0100 Thanks for this, Ron

One of the things I have noticed with public meetings is that the level of distraction / diversion of attention seems to increase exponentially with the size of the space and number of people present. Also that the dynamic of the group is effected by the number of people present – opportunities for any form of discussion…[Read more]

]]> 0 5b9ed93c3215b8b01cbcc9f4bde13a4d Ron Eagle replied to the topic Meeting in a public space in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/meeting-in-a-public-space/#post-749 Sat, 01 Jul 2023 22:28:08 +0100 Public spaces are not usually ideal for professional meetings as there are issues of logistics ( do you have guaranteed space, seating, accessibility etc) , interruptions ( if its public you cant control who comes and goes around/into your meeting space) and of course security ( eavesdropping, public Wi-Fi networks etc.)

Unless its a social…[Read more]

]]> 0 4aa5b36f1a7faf5acd8d0bcc27fa5fd3 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin started the topic Meeting in a public space in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/meeting-in-a-public-space/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 10:29:24 +0100 Meetings in a public space come with a whole set of considerations. What are your takes on it? What has worked for you?

]]> 0 3c2b9b61614b4b0c42738b1436e812cb Andrew Gurnham started the topic Videoconference Apps in the forum Meeting Technologies https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-technologies/forum/topic/videoconference-apps/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:52:29 +0100 Which is more important: the videoconference app (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.) you use for a meeting, or the connection quality, speed and reliability?

My vote is for the connection – if you don’t have a good connection, it doesn’t matter how good or bad the app is.

]]> 0 ed5f3487e1d422757df91bb5d712b18b AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin's profile was updated https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2022/ Tue, 07 Mar 2023 20:14:02 +0000 0 aca5a89943d8954bae1a88a52ae47927 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin changed their profile picture https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2021/ Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:48:34 +0000 0 53f4b930abc96b35b1f4435adb7eb5a5 MeetingMoose became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2012/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:43:41 +0100 0 fb504cd3f19c5d54f4b27ef7f80c8bd3 farah mughal became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2011/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:45:17 +0100 0 980982a30b77120a3ab6f2a78dcabc70 Soph became a registered member https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2009/ Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:40:21 +0100 0 82d98fa1c66d6d0ae1689d8b02d316ff Jim Brown changed their profile picture https://meetingark.org/activity/p/2008/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 18:24:45 +0100 0 98d32cc95c42a6a89fc679d514783c01 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Courtesy & Respect in the forum Meeting etiquette https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-etiquette/forum/topic/courtesy-respect/#post-9424 Tue, 31 May 2022 16:04:12 +0100 One subtle point is to be aware of  is that YOUR idea of what constitutes obvious courtesy and respect may NOT be as clear and obvious to your attendee(s). These values are as fluid and contextual and culturally flexible as any other value. So do more research from the other person(s) viewpoint in advance so that ‘obvious’ is not taken as a given.

]]> 0 8c0ddaa0c7b4fc7b207657911bca72be Ron Eagle replied to the topic Taking notes in the forum Participating in a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/participating-in-a-meeting/forum/topic/taking-notes/#post-9422 Tue, 31 May 2022 15:57:47 +0100 One common theme to almost all meetings is the necessity to take some form of recording of the session and of any outcomes.

In some cases this may need to be a laborious and extremely accurate and comprehensive style of recording of every utterance and action during the meeting. This is most common in highly political discussions or those in the…[Read more]

]]> 0 80070d75908a1f79bde337d862a51a16 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Reaching agreement & dealing with disagreement in the forum Running a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/running-a-meeting/forum/topic/reaching-agreement-dealing-with-disagreement/#post-9419 Tue, 31 May 2022 15:55:13 +0100 Need to distinguish between constructive disagreements that can eventually foster innovative solutions if managed creatively and destructive disagreements where no eventual convergence seems likely. The former may sometimes be encouraged in brainstorming  but the latter should be assertively halted as early as possible.

]]> 0 8aa8099309952a6db80eb735570b3bbd Ron Eagle wrote a new post https://meetingark.org/?p=9409 Tue, 31 May 2022 15:39:14 +0100 To Record or Not to Record? One common theme to almost all meetings is the necessity to take some form of recording of the session and of any outcomes. In some cases this may need […]

]]> 85e3f5f6ad59141047210e5d34d15c38 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Joining Instructions in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/joining-instructions/#post-7162 Sat, 07 May 2022 22:40:08 +0100 On a slightly more specific note – also be wary of using satnav settings or postcode/zip code details supplied by the venue. This because sometimes those details are part of a generic address for a location and may not be best for identifying nearest actual access. For example a large venue, say a major exhibition hall, might have a  single…[Read more]

]]> 0 9afbc907c7a4995d87c902492df04e51 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Coordinating diaries in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/coordinating-diaries/#post-7159 Sat, 07 May 2022 22:28:33 +0100 physical notes was a proven system for centuries so why not?

]]> 0 490e5e1e3ae54d6807214024b4e6b63f Ron Eagle replied to the topic Introductions in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/introductions/#post-7151 Sat, 07 May 2022 21:59:55 +0100 If you do decide to adopt some local empathy into your introductions, make sure you do your homework to get it exactly right as making cultural gaffes may be worse than not adopting them at all.

]]> 0 de763b35b5a65dff30f05e50a8e48693 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Venue in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/venue/#post-6023 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:34:01 +0100 I agree that venue can be one of the highest potential challenges and let us not forget that one of those ‘venues’ can be video meetings.

]]> 0 8fbc2af8558e43fae1b1f9c5c78f3abd Ron Eagle replied to the topic Briefing Notes / Pre-Reading in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/briefing-notes-pre-reading/#post-6022 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:30:39 +0100 Yes, much empathy to this type of ethos. Having worked in Central Government I can say it is almost de rigueur to expect this and bud it in almost as a set contingency in any timeline for decisions.

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