2 minutes - Article
Do you feel nervous in meetings or struggle to have your voice heard? These are some tips for making meetings go well from the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OYCA).
When it comes to meetings, think about the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. Below are some ideas for what information you might want write down before, during, and after your meeting:
Before the meeting
- Who will be at the meeting?
- Who is a support person that you can bring with you? You may want them to take notes, help you focus, or ask questions you don’t feel comfortable asking.
- What do you need to bring? You might need a pen and paper, notes from past meetings, or agreements you have signed.
- What do you want to say? What do you want people to hear or know? What are you asking for?
- What question do you have? You can make a list ahead of time to keep focused, or write a letter to read at the meeting.
At the meeting
- Who is at the meeting and why? Meetings usually start with introductions. If this one doesn’t, you can ask people to explain who they are and why they are there. Ask people for their business cards if you need to follow up with them.
- Ask for someone to record attendance or meeting notes. This is so you have a record of who is there, and what they said. Did someone say they would do something after the meeting?
- What questions do you have? You can make a list ahead of time to keep you focused, or write a letter to read at the meeting.
