MeetingArk | Andrew Gurnham | Group Activity https://meetingark.org/members/andrewmeetingark/activity/groups/ Public group activity feed of which Andrew Gurnham is a member. Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:58:38 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 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 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 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 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 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.

]]> 0 e17c51b62ba829d951c2a037fc23c3b0 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Invitations in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/invitations/#post-6021 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:25:37 +0100 Perhaps find an ally or two to support and strengthen your request; especially one(s) whose opinions they respect.

]]> 0 d11d46f6d81cd01796bdc85076e86d36 MeetingArkAdmin 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-6019 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:21:42 +0100 So a cascade to a local laptop and even onwards to physical notebooks and boards.

]]> 0 409d8295242a81b37bd7e26217c51921 kieranfoley replied to the topic Introductions in the forum Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/commencing-a-meeting/forum/topic/introductions/#post-5015 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:17:01 +0000 Introductions IMO tend to be in the middle of the organisations culture and the meeting cultures of the people attending. When attending a country with a different meeting culture, don’t expect them to adapt to  yours. When they are in your country, maintain your own meeting culture but show sensitivity to things that might be deal breakers.

]]> 0 8998cb78ab904cfe651dc27682d9c164 kieranfoley replied to the topic Invitations in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/invitations/#post-5014 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:04:14 +0000 I’ll jump in on this

First: If you think the meeting truly needs the attendance of the senior person, ask Why? Find out the benefit for THEM  to attend and pitch it to them face to face in 10 seconds.

Secondly, dont frame it in terms of your own wants, frame it in terms of theirs. You could also just ask for a steer – you wondered whether this…[Read more]

]]> 0 d602944d99b3c23dbcf9596c6ea70aca kieranfoley 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-5013 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:59:41 +0000 Interesting to have an approach that seems to be an exercise in collaborative writing as a team. I am curious how Amazon avoid getting into “Revision Hell”. I saw this happen when editing a Divisional newsletter in a large Corporate. Each layer of organisation would countermand the changes from the level underneath them!

]]> 0 63c56a648ab97fe66153d51d23b91a0c kieranfoley joined the group Authors and Books https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1982/ Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:35:03 +0000 0 01d87620fcf5d06f975b0a627e493b5e kieranfoley joined the group Meeting Companies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1981/ Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:35:01 +0000 0 01d87620fcf5d06f975b0a627e493b5e kieranfoley joined the group Meeting Technologies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1980/ Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:35:01 +0000 0 8f2f45b5b9a363de5bdfcb9721f6c817 kieranfoley replied to the topic Venue in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/venue/#post-5011 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:04:18 +0000 The key rule seems to be “expect the unexpected”.

I was once doing logistics for a mindfullness seminar, held at a fairly large hotel in Bristol, England. As you can imagine, it needed a lot of peace and quiet, which it got…until half-way through, when we found that there was a long standing 1940s English singalong in the bar that was directly…[Read more]

]]> 0 faafd25f3125b9d7dc9a30c4e6cc3f03 kieranfoley 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-5010 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:38:20 +0000 For me, this can come under what type of impression do you want to make with your attendees?

A lack of clarity about a simple aspect of a transaction like this may contribute to a bad first impression – and that could have very severe impacts for the individuals setting up the meeting, not to mention possible adverse business effects.

]]> 0 132f17ffe41c814f32fe78f81b8bbad8 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Soliciting contributions in the forum Running a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/running-a-meeting/forum/topic/soliciting-contributions/#post-4857 Thu, 20 Jan 2022 09:40:04 +0000 Sometimes if stasis or stagnation of responses creps in to a meeting it can be revitalised by ‘seeding’ a more personal scenario. For instance , “how would it affect your areas if we xxxxxxx?” This focuses minds specifically on their own areas and can give the chairperson a more accurate tag to elicit a response from individuals.

]]> 0 44a73821df3cb1599e17bea5c3f82305 Ron Eagle replied to the topic Attendees and Quorum in the forum Meeting planning and preparation https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-planning-and-preparation/forum/topic/attendees-and-quorum/#post-4850 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 14:02:23 +0000 Unfortunately a most common cause of folk acquiescing to invites even where they feel their contribution my be nugatory is rank being pulled. If a senior figure invites you there may be a reluctance to refuse. If we are cynical there is also the opposite where folk attend many meetings to appear to be busy and part of influential groups simply to…[Read more]

]]> 0 e60e2916fa7b9ffac420df2ce319f423 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-4848 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:42:41 +0000 In past lives have needed to appoint  staff co-ordinators to maintain a central diary on a single laptop for meeting appointments (usually  by department with departmental coordinators cooperating between themselves for inter departmental diary alignments) with  mails/texts out to individuals who are expected to maintain their personal ap…[Read more]

]]> 0 a819ad12a62c54092115679dff233282 Andrew Gurnham joined the group Meeting Technologies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1969/ Sat, 15 Jan 2022 15:48:43 +0000 0 42ff74b13a5ed3181902d66e7d11551f AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin created the group Meeting Technologies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1968/ Fri, 14 Jan 2022 20:01:08 +0000 0 46ad3397fe240a13abb48ae3a5be1151 Andrew Gurnham joined the group 5 Meeting etiquette https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1962/ Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:43:31 +0100 0 d3bbef173b3921c19a120d11681c4dd4 Andrew Gurnham joined the group 1 Arranging a meeting https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1961/ Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:32:54 +0100 0 343c2c9a6dd0f90c06592b392b7c5d55 MeetingArkAdmin 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-4252 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 19:15:35 +0100 I was wondering if anyone has encountered the situation where the organisation’s diary system was down for an extended period of time – and what happened?

]]> 0 604926d40bb3002b39e21187d5a1fc3f Ron Eagle joined the group Authors and Books https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1948/ Sun, 19 Sep 2021 16:28:11 +0100 0 394d662ed56f93beaee783285c1327b1 Ron Eagle joined the group Meeting Companies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1947/ Sun, 19 Sep 2021 16:28:10 +0100 0 e33d11cbf90e77fad0c24d34cdc10bca Michael Servant joined the group Authors and Books https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1945/ Sat, 18 Sep 2021 14:04:56 +0100 0 3f78641359f87da0097b44a3a40f9bc1 Michael Servant joined the group Meeting Companies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1943/ Sat, 18 Sep 2021 08:07:36 +0100 0 3d4b11008089c64c71a2d6f5be664340 Andrew Gurnham joined the group Authors and Books https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1936/ Tue, 27 Jul 2021 20:22:45 +0100 0 4bdafbd44b352ae12231b25b9861aaa7 Andrew Gurnham joined the group Meeting Companies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/1935/ Tue, 27 Jul 2021 20:22:40 +0100 0 ca0fb3b128930c905285bf6d4c2c3401 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin created the group Meeting Companies https://meetingark.org/activity/p/246/ Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:08:52 +0000 0 1b7f90d5654b933a2bf5eafe60e90f00 AiYa - MeetingArkAdmin created the group Authors and Books https://meetingark.org/activity/p/245/ Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:06:08 +0000 0 558dcc72ca70c961498784996e1a1ef4 kieranfoley replied to the topic Signing formal documents in the forum Closing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/closing-a-meeting/forum/topic/signing-formal-documents/#post-1107 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:40:32 +0000 Small point, just to get the conversation started.

If you are going to sign documents that are translated from a foreign language, always ensure that you work with two independent translators to scrutinize both sets of documents – the ones you are signing and the one’s the other party are signing to ensure they are the same in both content and…[Read more]

]]> 0 6483e157e50a7cf870ccbd2180ad4554 kieranfoley replied to the topic Leaving before the end in the forum Closing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/closing-a-meeting/forum/topic/leaving-before-the-end/#post-1106 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:32:46 +0000 If you need to leave before the end of a meeting and know this before the start – either let people know in advance or have be mentioned by the chair at the start of the meeting. If you are essential to some of the agenda items, advance warning can enable the order to be changed, so your contribution will make a difference.

It also helps to take…[Read more]

]]> 0 3ac646bc357f46484a8736ef46c45f15 kieranfoley replied to the topic Summarising points of agreement in the forum Closing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/closing-a-meeting/forum/topic/summarising-points-of-agreement/#post-1105 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:28:37 +0000 The best practice is to have the points of agreement written up on a flip-chart for all to see and added to as the meeting progresses. The summary at the end will just be a quick review (reading out) of the points. This is much better than the alternative, which is to have one person in the meeting keeping notes and then having a summary cobbled…[Read more]

]]> 0 724134cfbc5b89d3a3466651b69af2a9 kieranfoley replied to the topic Arranging the next meeting in the forum Closing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/closing-a-meeting/forum/topic/arranging-the-next-meeting/#post-1104 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:23:31 +0000 Ideally do this within the meeting itself and have that be part of the Agenda for the meeting. Keep this really short and make sure that people who come to the meeting are informed that they will be expected to have their availability ready. Have this process occur before the distribution of the minutes for the meeting, which should be the last…[Read more]

]]> 0 b8781ca859442068b93c7623c98133d5 kieranfoley replied to the topic Courtesy & Respect in the forum Meeting etiquette https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-etiquette/forum/topic/courtesy-respect/#post-1103 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:18:35 +0000 Courtesy reflects a person’s value to us. When we treat a person with courtesy – with kindness and empathy – it shows that they matter to us.

Courtesy has two components – our own state, and the impact that that state has on anther. In terms of our own state – we need to model behaviours such as listening, summarising accurately, and being…[Read more]

]]> 0 416d2ba41c623985b80886cec0da65d7 kieranfoley replied to the topic Spin-off meetings / projects in the forum Meeting feedback and follow-up https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-feedback-and-follow-up/forum/topic/spin-off-meetings-projects/#post-1102 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 12:17:30 +0000 A key aspects of dealing with spin-off meetings and projects is not to assume they will remain smaller in scope than the meeting and project you are involved in. For example a project to speed up the performance of a website could lead to a team testing a complete re-write of the site in another computer language. A key issue is that of risk…[Read more]

]]> 0 143edbe18599754429bfb13c2e435f17 kieranfoley replied to the topic Commenting on minutes / notes in the forum Meeting feedback and follow-up https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-feedback-and-follow-up/forum/topic/commenting-on-minutes-notes/#post-1101 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:28:19 +0000 The essence of this is timeliness.

By far the best approach is to have minutes produced in real-time and agreed and then issued BEFORE the meeting ends.

This creates a great deal of positive momentum and the experience for the participants that the meeting has already accomplished something.

With appropriate tech set-up beforehand, this is…[Read more]

]]> 0 6e3fb4b8be68e9c28b659a9f9f0dd11e kieranfoley replied to the topic Completing actions in the forum Meeting feedback and follow-up https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-feedback-and-follow-up/forum/topic/completing-actions/#post-1100 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:18:58 +0000 A really useful way to think about meetings is what I call the Bridge / Flocks metaphor.

Between two get-togethers (represented by the supports of a suspension bridge), there is a ‘flock’ of actions that need to be shepherded to completion on the other side of the bridge.

The most important part of the meeting is what occurs between the two…[Read more]

]]> 0 d2deefcc4e63307c8267c0f1f48b5ee0 kieranfoley replied to the topic Asking for & giving feedback in the forum Meeting feedback and follow-up https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-feedback-and-follow-up/forum/topic/asking-for-giving-feedback/#post-1099 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:05:22 +0000 One of the quickest and simplest methods is to use the DeBono Thinking tool called PMI, which stands for Plus, Minus and Interesting.

It takes three minutes or less.

Plus

List what was positive and worked about the meeting

Minus

List what didn’t work about the meeting

Interesting

What were unexpected issues, ideas that came out of the…[Read more]

]]> 0 14061a58c31ac02f810ef25aa761d684 kieranfoley replied to the topic Briefing non-attendees in the forum Meeting feedback and follow-up https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-feedback-and-follow-up/forum/topic/briefing-non-attendees/#post-1098 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:57:16 +0000 A horses for curse approach is best. Factors involved will include the seniority of the non-attendee, the importance of their non-attendance and the type of the meeting.

If the meeting was virtual, then a quick catch-up on Zoom (or similar) will be the best approach because it will be the most personalised.

If it was face-to-face, then a brief…[Read more]

]]> 0 a14f661d9b18683ee688db7ec8f8ee81 kieranfoley replied to the topic Breaks & interruptions in the forum Meeting etiquette https://meetingark.org/groups/meeting-etiquette/forum/topic/breaks-interruptions/#post-1090 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:21:48 +0000 Interruptions are a big issue within meetings. They are one of the major causes of meetings becoming aggressive train-wrecks. (To be continued)

]]> 0 be5791b8ac481bf56f6ca9a5181ff85e kieranfoley joined the group 7 Meeting feedback and follow-up https://meetingark.org/activity/p/233/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:56:40 +0000 0 057f6eab7ff28ac9ec545263bb6ab120 kieranfoley joined the group 2 Commencing a meeting https://meetingark.org/activity/p/232/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:56:30 +0000 0 6316c565c3710b68e792368ce563f271 kieranfoley joined the group 1 Arranging a meeting https://meetingark.org/activity/p/231/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:56:28 +0000 0 cff2481d90d2f70d6ed8b14e8ba319ed kieranfoley replied to the topic Networking opportunities in the forum Closing a meeting https://meetingark.org/groups/closing-a-meeting/forum/topic/networking-opportunities/#post-1089 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:41:11 +0000 Preparation:

What are your goals for  networking?

Often people seem to set a goal of collecting business cards, that can end up forgotten in a desk drawer. Think about what you want to end up with. If it is an important person, do some research on them if possible before the meeting. Find out about their company / department and what is…[Read more]

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