About this time of year many charities and churches are required, by law, to hold an annual meeting; and the prospect fills many leaders with something close to despair.
What will you find to talk about and why on earth would anyone come? After all, there are usually lots of really boring business type things that have to be done and who would be interested in that?
It’s true, there is important business that this meeting has to transact, around elections, accounts and appointments, but that does not mean that this is all that has to happen. Indeed the annual meeting can be a real opportunity to do much more. Here are four brief ideas, perhaps particularly focused on church annual meetings, but equally applicable elsewhere.
- Eat together. Offer drinks and nibbles and good company; this could be one of the few times that some people will spend time together and there is a real opportunity to get to know one another better. You also often find that the resultant meeting is far more relaxed and mellow (even if the refreshments do not include wine).
- Tell stories. Alongside the business being transacted, tell tales about the year just gone, whether inspirational, funny or poignant, stories about the difference that your church or organisation has made in individual’s lives. Even better, get people along to tell their own stories! This is a great way of reminding everyone just why you are there.
- Bring some Hollywood glamour. Why not take a leaf out of the Oscars or BAFTAS and have a section of the meeting that has an ‘awards’ feel, using it as a way of acknowledging and thanking those who have contributed to the life of your organisation?
- Share future vision. The meeting is a chance to share something of what may shape the coming year.
It really is possible that you could send people out rejoicing and looking forward to when they may be able to do that again. Don’t believe me? Why not contact me to talk about what might be possible at your upcoming annual meeting?