Four Tips to Effective MeetingsSample

Four Tips to Effective Meetings - Part IV

Priya Parker, author of the book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, shared in a Wall Street Journal article four tips on conducting effective meetings. The fourth tip is to cause good controversy.

Ms. Parker once facilitated a meeting for an architectural firm that needed to decide its new strategic direction. Because the firm had a polite culture, she arranged for them to have a “cage match.” Two leaders debated the merits of their cases then asked the others in the meeting to voice their opinions of the best solution.

Acts 15:2 says, "And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles ..."

Debate is sometimes necessary. Just make sure it’s done in a respectful way and comes to a healthy resolution.

Questions for Reflection:

• What is the benefit of allowing good controversy in a meeting?
• What ground rules might the facilitator establish that would ensure the controversy or debate is good, or healthy?
• The Acts passage shows us that good controversy is not only productive but also Biblical. Why do you think some leaders shy away from good controversy?

Heavenly Father, You are Lord of our time and our meetings. You establish our meeting agendas and direct our conversations. We confess that, at times, we forget, and don’t ask your Holy Spirit for help and guidance. Thank You that You provide Biblical examples and principles for healthy, productive meetings in your Word. Help us to consult with You in prayer and study so that we can make wise use of our time and of others’ time and accomplish what You have set out for us to do. Amen.

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