Informal meeting
Posted by Peter Baskerville in Aug, 2013
What is an informal meeting?
Define Informal Meeting – An informal meeting is a meeting which is far less heavily planned and regulated than a formal business meeting, and so lacks many of the defining features of a formal business meeting, such as minutes, a chairperson and a set agenda. These informal meetings are far more likely to take place in a casual setting, such as a restaurant or a coffee shop, or at one of the participant’s desks, rather than take place in a boardroom.
What is an informal meeting like?
Informal meetings are like a coach having a quick and opportune chat to a player during the non-playing period about broad issues that may or may not directly relate to the sport but is very relevant to the player or coach.
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What is the purpose of an informal meeting?
The purpose of an informal meeting is to discuss issues which would not have an appropriate place in a formal meeting. They may be designed to make one of the participants feel more at ease and more free to speak their mind than they would in a more formal setting. They allow participants to meet with a greater degree of spontaneity and flexibility.
What are the different types of informal meeting?
- One-on-One: This is a type of informal meeting where just two people meet. This may be to discuss business ideas or it may be between an off the record discussion between a manager and a staff member to discuss their experiences in the workplace, or any troubles they may be having which could affect their work.
- Team Meeting: This is an informal meeting where a project team joins together to discuss their project and any issues which may be related to it. These meetings may be called suddenly if issues arise during the course of a project.
- Informational Meeting: This is a meeting where large groups of people join together to receive an instruction or piece of information from their manager. They many also receive news about the company via this type of meeting.
What’s involved with informal meetings?
There are no formal requirements for informal meetings, which is why they are easier to arrange than formal ones. More things can be discussed in informal meetings, because there is not a requirement to stick to a formal agenda. However, some decisions cannot be taken at informal meetings, because they must be put to a larger group of people at a formal meeting, due to legal restrictions.
Where do informal meetings fit into the management function?
Informal meetings may be a more appropriate way for managers to meet with their staff who are lower down the organizational hierarchy. The flow of information can go both ways as managers alert their staff to any new instructions, whilst their lower level staff are able to share their own ideas which may help to improve the efficiency of an organisation.
How do informal meetings impact on organisational goals?
Informal meetings can help to further the organisational goals of a company or organisation by allowing participants to share thoughts and ideas which may not be fully developed yet, and therefore may be an unsuitable topic for discussion at a formal meeting. They are able to discuss these ideas before formally presenting them.
What terms are used in conducting informal meetings?
- Impromptu – Meetings of this kind may often be called immediately, or with very little notice.
- Ad Hoc – Informal meetings may have little planning behind them, and they could be just based on a single issue, rather than a lengthy agenda
- Procedures – There are very few (if any) rules associated with informal meetings.
Where can I find more information about informal meetings?
http://prezi.com/xopvw66lqblg/formal-and-informal-business-meetings/
http://www.workplaceinfo.com.au/human-resources-management/communication-in-the-workplace/meetings
http://studentweb.usq.edu.au/home/W0013448/Meeting%20Administration/Meeting_Notes.htm
- About the Author
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Peter Baskerville is an entrepreneur with a passion for developing innovative solutions for the many problems facing the vocational training industry in the 21st century. As founder and manager of many businesses incorporating over 30 outlets, Peter has invested decades in discovering and applying best practice work skilling in a variety of contexts. He currently shares these insights on Quora with some articles being published by Forbes, Huffington Post, INC and Slate. Peter was awarded the Quora Top Writer award for 6 years starting in 2012. For many years Peter has been a facilitator of the Start Your Own Business course. Peter carries the endorsement of his peers in areas of E-Learning, Start-ups, Coaching and Higher Education.
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