As I start to draw the curtains on my research project, it is time to look back and reflect on my learning experience. For me, the most important lesson that I have learnt is the benefit of a good and effective meeting. I have learnt that meetings should only be called when there are things to be discussed and that preparation for a meeting is very important. When members of the group turn up for a meeting unprepared, he or she has effectively single-handily wasted the whole meeting. This is especially evident in a small team where there is even more reliance on each other.
Throughout the course of the research project, my group has had many meetings since lessons were set aside for discussions. I remember vividly that our first few meetings were feeble attempts at trying to put a report together because we did not have the required research done. Instead, we spent the time surfing the Internet and comparing which girls in class were prettier (I’m sworn to secrecy about this). It was only towards the deadline when we started doing our own preparations at home that the meetings became more productive, as we were able to discuss about what was lacking in our report.
I have been able to apply this lesson to my life. As head of my hall’s committee, I have learnt to call for a meeting only when I have an agenda. Even so, the agenda should require the physical presence such that an email cannot suffice. Not only have I learnt about the Marriage and Parenthood package in Singapore, I have also learnt many intangible lessons about communication. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my group members for a wonderful time spent learning together.
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Hi Derek,
Initially, our group was faced with environmental barrier in listening. We were often distracted with Facebook (a social networking website). However, when the deadline drew near, we had begun to share work assignments and complete them after lessons. As we were sharing ideas and contributing suggestions, we used active listening skills to evaluate each other accuracy of facts and to take down useful notes. Furthermore, we often clarified misunderstandings of a message by rephrasing. By doing so, it helped me in using different ways to express myself, in order to get my idea across clearly. Fortunately, we managed to finish the report on time even though we may have different ways of completing the tasks. It had been nice working with you and Mongshi.
Madeline
It is always good to embark on a task with the end in mind. That is especially true for meetings. I have had countless experience like yours, when my teammates and I spent a couple of hours attending a meeting achieving nothing. It is only with this module that I have learnt the importance of defining objectives prior to a meeting as that would clearly set the direction in which discussions should be steered towards. In this way, much more can be achieved, contributing to the overall efficiency of the group.
Good luck for your oral presentation. (:
Hey derek,
It is good that you have enjoyed the survey research project. I agree that coming well prepared before a meeting is a must and it allows work to be done efficiently. Planning an agenda for a meeting also helps in getting the meeting to proceed efficiently.
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