Administration & secretarial · Short course
Meeting Management
Planning meetings, structuring discussions and following through on decisions.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
Planning meetings, structuring discussions and following through on decisions.
The programme brings together meeting preparation, chairing support, decision capture and follow-through. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: Recurring meetings run over time and decisions are rarely followed through. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Meeting coordinators, administrators and team leaders.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Prepare an agenda with clear decisions and realistic time allocations.
- Plan participation and chairing support for a difficult discussion.
- Create a decision and action log from a fictional meeting.
- Design a follow-up process that makes outstanding actions visible.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Meeting preparation
This part of the programme examines meeting preparation, with attention to purpose, participants and agenda. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Purpose.
- Participants.
- Agenda.
- Applied work: prepare an agenda with clear decisions and realistic time allocations.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare an agenda with clear decisions and realistic time allocations. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Chairing support
This part of the programme examines chairing support, with attention to timing, participation and discussion flow. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Timing.
- Participation.
- Discussion flow.
- Applied work: plan participation and chairing support for a difficult discussion.
Illustrative practical exercise
Plan participation and chairing support for a difficult discussion. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03Decision capture
This part of the programme examines decision capture, with attention to resolutions and action responsibilities. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Resolutions.
- Action responsibilities.
- Applied work: create a decision and action log from a fictional meeting.
Illustrative practical exercise
Create a decision and action log from a fictional meeting. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Follow-through
This part of the programme examines follow-through, with attention to circulating records and tracking actions. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Circulating records.
- Tracking actions.
- Applied work: design a follow-up process that makes outstanding actions visible.
Illustrative practical exercise
Design a follow-up process that makes outstanding actions visible. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
Recurring meetings run over time and decisions are rarely followed through. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Indicative outline for discussion. The final syllabus is agreed with Ratomac before booking. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.