Why have a meeting?

Meetings can be a valuable management tool where creating a forum for planning, evaluating and communicating can be achieved.

Holding meetings may be a constitutional requirement. This is often the case for voluntary sports clubs and associations.

Meetings are the perfect forum for communicating information to a number of people. It means you save time, explain issues only once and everybody gets the same message rather than a distorted account of the discussion from a colleague.

Meetings give a club or a group of people within an organisation the opportunity to come together as a team and make decisions on previously discussed issues and explore all options fully and in consultation with all relevant parties. This collective contribution is essential in involving all team members, helping them feel that their contribution is valued and also to develop ownership of decisions taken.

A good meeting will:

motivate the 'team' of volunteers

allow the message to be put across and clarification sought

help forge good relationships between colleagues and members

promote sound decision making

clearly communicate issues

clearly define the outcome of decisions and action required.

An unnecessary or unproductive meeting will:

waste time and money

be de-motivating and frustrating for members

diminish the status of important meetings

have no constructive outcome or action and therefore prevent the club from running effectively.

Source: runningsports - Quick Guides - The Role of the Chairperson