It’s been just over three weeks since the launch of the Idealist Network and more Teams are getting ready to meet for the first time.

If you’re a Connector planning or attending a meeting, maybe you’re starting to think: How is this meeting going to go? Who will lead it? What will we talk about? Will we get along? What will happen next?

Here are some tips to help you have an great first meeting:

There’s no such thing as too many ideas. (photo via The Inadvertent Gardener on Flickr’s Creative Commons.)

1. Have a simple agenda

An agenda doesn’t mean your meeting has to be stuffy or formal. Even if it’s just two of you chatting over coffee, having some discussion topics can be super helpful for breaking the ice. Talk with the other attendees about the possible agenda for the meeting.

2. Agree beforehand where you’ll meet and for how long

Don’t worry if not everyone agrees or can make it. Connector Teams can meet in twos and threes, and it’s unlikely the entire team will be able to make every meeting. That’s okay. Just remember to post your meeting as an event on your Team’s page so people can RSVP.

3. Encourage attendees to take on roles

This will help the meeting go smoothly. Some roles to consider:

• Facilitator: Keeps the conversation on topic and on track.
• Scribe: Takes notes during the meeting, capturing main points and actionable items.
• Timekeeper: Ensures the meeting starts and ends on time.

4. Agree on next steps

Before the meeting ends, talk about when you’ll meet next (if you’d like to meet again) and if there are any items you’ve agreed to work on/accomplish/investigate between now and then. Having a plan will help keep the momentum up.

5. Let us know how it went

Snap a picture, send us some meeting highlights, and let us know if there’s any resource you’re missing that would be helpful. If we can provide it or connect you to it, we will! Just ask.

Good luck and have fun! We’re here for you every step of the way.

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Not a Connector yet? Get the details and sign up here! Want to start or join a Team in your area? Search the possibilities here.