We need to make meetings more effective. Why? Here are a few numbers:

• 50% of all businesses regularly don’t achieve the goals they set for themselves in their workshops and larger meetings with 15+ people.
• In 66% of all meetings, the more self-confident participants dominate the discussion, and
• in 72% of the cases, the more silent voices are not being heard.
• 70 % don’t get done what they have on their agenda in an appropriate amount of time, and
• in 45 % of the meetings people do not achieve an agreement at all.

This is what was found out in a survey of 255 businesses with 250 to 5.000 employees, conducted by the Technical University of Münster (Germany). What differentiated the more successful from the less successful businesses, was that they typically contracted an experienced facilitator, who

• encouraged learning about the problem at hand,
• managed to collect all the participants’ know-how in order to find the best solution,
• created a team spirit and sufficient positive energy among the participants so they would contribute to the workshop or meeting.

Meetings can be so more than just talking shops. Ideally, they are a strategic tool for aligning teams, work on company goals, enhance collaboration and boost innovation. Instead, in reality, they are oftentimes time-consuming and boring. People get hung up on details, or they are frustrated when group dynamics lead to heated discussions and the meeting ends without feasible results. As an experienced facilitator, I can help to keep the team on track and navigate difficult topics and settings, thus making meetings and workshops a more pleasant and satisfying experience.