Meridian Magazine : : Print

Rate Yourself as a Meeting Leader and Participant
by Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar

Instructions: Check yes or no beside each of the following questions based on how you act (or would act) as a meeting leader. Be candid.

Yes No

1. Do I have clear objectives for the meeting?

2. Do I arrive early enough to check arrangements?

3. Do I start the meeting promptly regardless of who is present?

4. Do I prayerfully prepare an agenda and make sure each participant

gets a copy?

5. Do I actually use the agenda as a map in leading the meeting?

6. Do I work to ensure that we stay on track?

7. Do I use the meeting to help people “catch the vision” of the Lord’s work?

8. Do I use righteous influence rather than position to lead the meeting?

9. Do I try to help every participant feel included and involved?

10. Do I frequently summarize so we know where we’ve been, where we are and

where we’re going?

11. Do I hold people accountable for following through on action items?

12. Do I hold myself accountable for following through on action items?

13. Do I conduct the meeting in a way that causes participants to feel their time is

well invested?

14. Do I affirm participants for their contributions?

15. Do I model Christlike behavior in all I do and say?

Rate Yourself as a Meeting Participant

Each of us is a meeting participant. A Relief Society president attends Ward Council and Welfare meetings as a participant. A bishop or a priesthood president attends stake leadership meetings as a participant. When you attend a meeting as a participant you have yet another opportunity to model effective meeting behavior.

Great meetings depend on effective and involved participants.

As a participant, you are often in a position to make a significant contribution to the meeting’s success. A productive participant demonstrates many of the same behaviors recommended for meeting leaders. This includes promptness, avoiding side conversations, being willing to ask pertinent questions, staying alert and attentive, listening carefully, and staying engaged.

Instructions: Check yes or no beside each of the following questions based on how you participate in meetings. Be candid.

Yes No

1. Do I typically know the purpose of the meetings I attend?

2. Do I clearly understand my role in these meetings?

3. Do I confirm my attendance in advance of the meetings?

4. Do I complete any “homework” in advance of the meetings?

5. Do I arrive at meetings before they are scheduled to begin?

6. Do I avoid side conversations while the meeting is in progress?

7. Do I ask appropriate questions to ensure that I understand?

8. Do I stay open and respectful to the ideas of others?

9. Do I listen to understand rather than to judge or criticize?

10. Do I actively participate when I feel I can add real value?

11. Do I speak to bless rather than to impress?

12. Do I help the group (including myself) stay on track and on time?

13. Do I promptly follow through on action items assigned to me?

14. Do I appropriately inform people who did not attend the meeting about what

was discussed and the outcomes?

15. Do I model Christlike behavior in all I do and say?

Quotes Worth Remembering

If we are called to positions of leadership, we are accountable to the Savior for the acts we perform in that office. – Russell M. Nelson

We attend sacrament meetings to worship the Lord. If the meeting is conducted or if we attend with any other thought, we have missed the spirit of the occasion. – Dallin H. Oaks

God help us to do our duty, to be equal to our task, and when we say, "I go," let us be true to the promise that is implied and stay until the end of the day, that when the time shall come that we shall be released from this part of our labors and we go on to greater labors, we may be able to say with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." – Hugh B. Brown

Everything discussed, every plan made, every activity coordinated should have as its central focus bringing souls to Christ by either proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, or redeeming the dead – or a combination of the three. – M. Russell Ballard

Note: The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted on Meridian are only a fraction of the contents of this 349-page book. To learn more about this ground-breaking book and to order copies, click here.