Performance Improvement Tip of the Day: "Outcomes Driven" Meeting Agenda

The meeting agenda is probably one of the most commonly used tools in project management. However, how this tool is used can make a big difference in the effectiveness of meetings, as well as the coordination of the overall performance improvement project.

The "Outcomes Driven Meeting Agenda" template below integrates performance-enhancing features into the staid meeting agenda in order to create a powerful project management tool:

• "Roles" of team members - Leader, Facilitator, Scribe, and Time Keeper - are assigned at the outset in order to keep the agenda flowing. 
• "Time" is allotted for each agenda item in order to guide the discussion, and to keep the team from getting "stuck" on a particular item. 
• "Discussion Type" is a unique element that allows the team to know what the nature of the discussion will be, so that the discussion is more directed. 
• Info = Share Information 
• Proc = Process Information 
• Con = Need Consensus 
• Dec = Make Decision 
• "Desired Discussion Outcomes" is my favorite feature in this tool. It allows the project leaders to envision and lead the team to the desired outcome for each agenda topic. 

Adapted from Mike Hauser and Brian Stancampiano, Quality Solutions Group, Sanofi Aventis.