Successful Public Meetings: A Practical Guide for Managers in Government

Love 'em or hate 'em, public meetings are an essential part of most planners' jobs. How can you get them right from the start? The first step is to accept the maxim of well-known meeting planner Elaine Cogan: "A successful public meeting is the reward for studious attention to many factors; it is not the result of luck or happenstance." The second step is to follow the excellent advice she offers in Successful Public Meetings.

Cogan identifies the three essential components of any successful meeting: effective leadership, advance planning, and good organization. She explains why it's essential to begin the preparations by deciding what the meeting is intended to accomplish. That, in turn, determines what kind of meeting you should conduct: informational, advisory, or problem-solving.

Cogan breaks down the essential tasks involved and even suggests the right type of person to handle each one. She describes various types of troublesome meeting attendees—from accusers and apathetics to fence-sitters and know-it-alls—and offers advice on how to deal tactfully but firmly with them all. She also tackles working effectively with the media, a subject that terrifies most planners.

True stories of public meetings, both good and bad, add humor to her no-nonsense narrative. Follow her step-by-step checklist and leave nothing to chance.