Participating in a Meeting

Whether you are asked to join a committee that meets on a regular basis or provide feedback in a one time focus group, or something in between, participating in meetings as a family advisor is important work.  A small but important shift occurs when you become a family advisor.  You move beyond advocating for your own child and family to collaborating with others for the benefit of all children and families.  To be effective in this role, you must have a strong sense of self combined with good listening, critical thinking and communication skills.

Here are some tips to help you effectively participate in a meetings as a family advisor:

• Begin slowly and thoughtfully: Observe others and listen well. Ask thoughtful questions. Be mindful of how you communicate as this will go a long way to insuring your input is well received and on target.
• Recognize there are different ways to give constructive input: Support and affirm what is going well. Offer feedback based on your direct experience. Provide suggestions/ideas/potential solutions for the future and/or respectfully express your differing viewpoints.
• Tell your story in 30 seconds or less: Share a short personal story inorder to help make your point, but be careful not to lose your listeners by including too much detail.
• Be aware you may have an emotional response: discussions can bring back powerful memories that trigger emotions. Learn and practice what strategies for staying calm and grounded will work for you.

For more complete information download the Effective Meeting Participation Handout.  You may also be interested in exploring how to educate others by telling your story or return to Becoming a Family Advisor.