The Zen of Meetings

After participating in Tree Bressen's workshop on meeting facilitation last weekend, my view of meetings has been transformed.

I used to think of meetings as a necessary evil.

But, when I look back on the way in which the workshop unfolded, I see meetings as an art form. If it is well planned and well executed, a meeting is a thing of beauty.

At its best, a meeting draws out people's feelings, bonds them to each other, identifies their common purpose, and moves them towards the realization of their vision.

I have a meeting to attend this afternoon. Rather than thinking, "Sigh," I am thinking, "Oh goody."