![\"better](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dilbert-meetings.gif\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMany feel this way.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nResearch from Atlassian<\/a> and the Muse<\/a> shows that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 67% of executives think meetings don\u2019t have a clearly defined purpose<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 92% of people multitask during meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Managers lose 30% of their time in bad meetings that they could have invested in other productive tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Despite all this, there is a better way. We\u2019ve written about how to have more effective meetings in the past<\/a>, and you may be wondering if there is an even more actionable and detailed way to fix your meetings?<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn today\u2019s post, we review 5 courses designed to help you accomplish more in a variety of different kinds of meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this isn\u2019t a direct side-by-side comparison<\/strong> where we tell you one option is better than the other. Rather, each course is a fit for different needs, experience levels, and contexts, so you can pick the one ideal for your specific situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"have](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/pexels-anna-shvets-4226140-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Top 5 Courses to Help You Have Better Meetings and Accomplish More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This post covers courses from five different authors. Here\u2019s what you can expect to find in them in a nutshell:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Facilitating Meetings and Groups | Udemy<\/a> - a project management course focused program that will earn you 7 PMP credits and teach you how to conduct group meetings efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Courses for Leading Effective Meetings <\/a>|<\/a> Skillsoft<\/a> - a bundle of resources in different formats including books, audio books, and video presentations that focus primarily on wasting less time in meetings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Leading Effective Meetings | Udemy<\/a> - a great starting off point for first-time managers who have no experience with meetings and aren\u2019t comfortable facilitating them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to Have Fewer, Better Meetings | Linkedin<\/a> - a primer on having more productive group meetings and getting rid of the bad ones, including ways to objectively show a meeting is not worth having.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lighthouse Lessons: The 1 on 1 Master Class | GetLighthouse.com<\/a>\u00a0 - a comprehensive program with bite-sized, actionable lessons that will teach you everything about having amazing 1:1s meetings with your team (including more advanced strategies for seasoned leaders).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a more detailed look into what each course offers, who it\u2019s intended for, as well as some of the biggest pros and cons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"top](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot_7-1024x360.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFacilitating Meetings and Groups | Udemy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re a project manager, one of your most important tasks will be to facilitate group meetings effectively. This requires understanding everyone\u2019s perspectives and goals, knowing how to keep participants engaged, how to resolve disagreements, and encourage problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This course helps you do that and counts toward your PMP certification with 7.00 PDU credit hours. At 4 hours in length, it\u2019s one of the most comprehensive options we\u2019re covering in this post. It was created by LearnSmart, a company responsible for over 1,000 training programs and one that has worked with a broad range of Fortune 500 organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the program, you\u2019ll be guided through a self pre-assessment process and then taught concepts such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- How to be a successful group meeting facilitator and what skills you should focus on<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The tools and strategies you need to guide everyone\u2019s attention and encourage participation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to arrive at decisions as a group and determine your next steps without people feeling left out<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to turn disagreements into actionable discussions and manage emotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The different leadership styles you can apply, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The course currently costs $85 but there are often discounts on Udemy so it may be a good idea to stay patient and wait for a better deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few things people didn\u2019t like about LearnSmart\u2019s course you should be aware of if you\u2019re considering purchasing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s comprehensive at 4 hours long, people have complained about it being unnecessarily drawn out at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, some of the course slides were overwhelmingly full of text and difficult to focus on while listening to the narrator at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, there were issues of typos in presentation materials that isn\u2019t mission-critical, but you\u2019d expect a better finishing touch from an organization with so much experience creating courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Facilitating Meetings in Groups\u2019 is a great option for project managers looking to get or maintain their certification. However, it\u2019s not oriented toward individual meetings or helping you improve your soft skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"top](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot_8-1024x413.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLeading Effective Meetings | Skillsoft<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs the name suggests, this is a program of multiple resources bundled together. They include 3 video lessons for project managers that last a bit under 2 hours in total, as well as 7 e-books and 9 audio books on having better meetings from various experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the first course on the list, the video material gets you 2 PMP credit hours, but the rest of the content is not focused specifically on project management skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It includes books that provide advice on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- The best meeting tools\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to take notes efficiently<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Research-based ways to make meetings less wasteful<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50+ activities for virtual meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Having less repetitive meetings, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This course is available with a Skillsoft subscription that costs around $20\/month and offers a 14-day free trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As comprehensive as these resources are, you\u2019re not going to get insights from them quickly. After you complete the video material (which was created specifically for project managers), you\u2019ll be reading through or listening to several books on various meeting topics, which takes quite a bit of time. If you\u2019re a busy manager with a crazy schedule, that may be a deal-breaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This course was created primarily with group meetings in mind and offers no guidance for your 1:1s or other smaller-sided meetings. With that being said, the variety of topics, authors, and skills makes this a great pick for project managers looking to develop in other areas - especially given you\u2019ll receive access to other useful courses on Skillsoft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"leading](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot_9-1024x387.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLeading Effective Meetings | Udemy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis course represents a good foundation for first-time managers who have no experience with structuring and facilitating meetings. It covers some of the meeting essentials you\u2019ll need as you\u2019re starting out, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- The different types of meetings you need to have<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Starting off strong in meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Knowing what to do when the meeting is over<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Encouraging team members to contribute to the discussion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It places special emphasis on how you spend the time leading up to a meeting, choosing what topics to discuss, and making the most of it with an agenda. It also teaches you how to stay accountable, set goals, and follow through on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike the other courses on this list, \u2018Leading Effective Meetings\u2019 gives advice on how to create simple, yet compelling presentations and keep team members engaged. It also guides you on when you actually need presentations to get your point across and when you\u2019re better off without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the other Udemy course on this list, you may want to wait for one of their discount offers. Otherwise you'll find the full price is $95.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The biggest issue with this course can be summed up by the following review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cA lot of time spent explaining items that could've been discussed in less than 1 min\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nAs we mentioned, this is a course specifically for new managers, but it falls into the trap of over-explaining simple ideas. As a result, it makes you spend time on broad topics while not including enough examples or tips specific to real-life examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially If you\u2019re just starting out as a manager, you need pointers you can to apply to your job immediately and something that\u2019s not super obvious. Unfortunately, you\u2019ll have to listen to some pretty obvious things to get through this course. Presentation-wise, people have also complained about the narrator talking too quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Generally speaking, this is a good course for new managers who want to learn at a slow pace but it won\u2019t offer much beyond that. If you\u2019re a more experienced leader, you won\u2019t have the patience to go the unnecessary padded sections of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"having](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot_10-1024x566.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Have Fewer, Better Meetings | Linkedin<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s have more meetings\u201d<\/em>, said no one, ever. A study published in HBR<\/a> reported that 65% of workers said that meetings keep them from completing their own work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe situation has only gotten worse since the beginning of COVID-19 and the emergence of the dreaded \u2018Zoom fatigue\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo help you counter this, the 37-minute course teaches you methods for deciding which meetings are worth having and saying \u2018no\u2019 to the wasteful ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can think of it as a primer for helping you adopt healthier meeting habits. It offers 2-3 minute videos on things like preparing for meetings, defining their purpose, engaging attendees, avoiding common meeting mistakes, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The course was created by Kevan Hall, an author who published 4 books on leadership<\/a> and the CEO of a company that specializes in executive coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s different about this course compared to the others on the list is that you\u2019ll learn a systematic process for cutting out a large percentage of your unnecessary meetings. People have also praised the author\u2019s clear delivery and practical tips included in the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can get this course with a 30-day free trial of Linkedin Learning (after which you\u2019ll have to pay $20\/month) and easily cancel the subscription if you don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At 37 minutes long, \u2018How to Have Fewer, Better Meetings\u2019 should be seen as a secondary resource that complements more comprehensive programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also tends to focus more on telling you what to avoid than telling you what to do. Its narrow focus makes it an incomplete course if you\u2019re a new manager looking to learn the essentials of running great meetings, but it tells you how you can avoid common mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the reviewers also points out an inconsistency: in one place, the instructor talks about your subjective opinion being a criterion for deciding if a meeting was successful. However, in a later chapter, he explains that you should only consider whether the agreed-upon objective of the meeting was achieved. And with only 37 minutes of content, you\u2019re not going to get enough nuance to understand the difference between those competing suggestions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Despite the course being short, the author\u2019s experience, context-specific and actionable insights make this a great option if your goal is to systematically cut out unnecessary meetings, and do so fast. On the other hand, it\u2019s not a good fit for you if you\u2019re a new manager and want to learn the ins and outs of how to do your job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"having](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot_11-1024x529.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLighthouse Lessons: The 1 on 1s Master Class<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOur contribution to this list is focused on the most important meeting for managers: the 1 on 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This program was designed for managers with busy schedules who want actionable insights they can apply to their team without being overwhelmed by hours of content. You can benefit from it regardless of your professional background and is great for anyone from beginner to mid-level of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 1 on 1s Master Class\u201d is the only course on this list that focuses on 1:1 meetings specifically<\/strong>. It covers a variety of topics to provide a lot of depth so you really understand the versatility of 1 on 1s, including how to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Start 1:1s, prepare an agenda for them, and build consistency<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to prevent turnover of your best people by keeping their role fresh and growing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Build trust, rapport, and psychological safety to have healthy relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Give feedback to drive improvement and high performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use the meetings for both your best and struggling employees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What *not* to do in 1 on 1 meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More advanced techniques for senior managers like managing up, peer 1:1s, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The lessons are bite-sized, but comprehensive. This is possible because they\u2019re stretched out across 11 weeks to give you plenty of time to act on what you learn; you get 1 lesson per week, each with advice on specific actions to take right away to apply what you learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another key benefit is that you can also get the Group Edition of the program to take the course with other managers at your company. When you do, you\u2019ll receive a discussion agenda each week to get all the managers on your team talking about the lesson, sharing stories, and supporting one another, all without having to do any prep for that meeting yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a ~$100 price tag, Lighthouse Lessons represents great value for your money. Prices always go up as the kickoff date approaches, so reserve your spot as early as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The 1 on 1s Master Class focuses solely on 1 on 1s, so it won\u2019t help you have better stand-ups, project planning, or brainstorming sessions with your team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And as bite-sized as the lessons are (each one takes ~15 minutes to read and plan your weekly actions), 12 weeks of lessons mean you\u2019re committing to making changes for the foreseeable future. It also doesn\u2019t count any time you spend on further reading, watching videos, listening to related podcasts, or going deeper on a subject we discuss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Lighthouse Lessons, It\u2019s impossible to just fly through everything in a single weekend like you could a book or some of the courses above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, if you get the group edition, that\u2019s another weekly meeting you\u2019ll have to schedule with your team. It\u2019s up to you to decide whether you want to make such a commitment, but you can read how Jornaya<\/a>, a three-time participant of Lighthouse Lessons, benefited from the programs and especially the Group Edition. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Get this course if you don\u2019t have time for hours and hours of training material, but you do want something actionable that you'll be able to see the difference quickly. That said, it is focused on 1 on 1 meetings only, so if you want to learn how to facilitate group meetings or improve your presentation skills, this isn\u2019t a good fit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With the help of the right course, you\u2019ll be on your way to improving in one of the most important leadership areas - having great meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you need to lead better team meetings as a project manager, then Facilitating Great Meetings from Udemy<\/a> is your best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re looking for the best bundle and have enough time to level up by using multiple books, audiobooks, and video training modules, Courses for Leading Effective Meetings from Skillsoft<\/a> is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLinkedin\u2019s How to Have Better, Fewer Meetings<\/a> is a shorter video course that will teach you how to say no to wasteful group meetings, and set and follow up on clearly defined objectives in the ones you do have. It\u2019s going to have the best time vs. impact results at just 37 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe second Udemy course on this list, Having Effective Meetings<\/a>, is a good fit if you\u2019re just starting out and facilitating individual and group meetings for the first time ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFinally, Lighthouse Lessons, \u201cThe 1 on 1s Master Class\u201d<\/a> is great if you\u2019re a really busy manager but need highly actionable tips to specifically improve your 1:1s. It also has a Group Edition all your managers can enroll in if you want a group to improve together. Because of the depth of each lesson and length of the program, it can help you improve regardless of whether you\u2019re starting out or are looking to tune and level up your 1 on 1s.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe 1 on 1s Master Class starts soon, so to reserve your spot at the best price, reserve your spot here now<\/a>. Or get the course for your entire team and see everyone improve the quality of their most important meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAre you and your managers <\/strong>wasting<\/em><\/strong> their 1 on 1s?<\/strong>
There is no greater investment to make in your team than having 1 on 1s. Yet, done poorly they\u2019re a huge waste of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s why we made the 1 on 1 Master Class. You and your fellow managers learn step by step how to supercharge these meetings to motivate your teams, fix problems, coach your people, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can learn how Lighthouse Lessons can help your leaders like we helped SeedBox Technologies by signing up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getlighthouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Testimonial_7_christine-1024x379.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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- \n
- 67% of executives think meetings don\u2019t have a clearly defined purpose<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 92% of people multitask during meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Managers lose 30% of their time in bad meetings that they could have invested in other productive tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Despite all this, there is a better way. We\u2019ve written about how to have more effective meetings in the past<\/a>, and you may be wondering if there is an even more actionable and detailed way to fix your meetings?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In today\u2019s post, we review 5 courses designed to help you accomplish more in a variety of different kinds of meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this isn\u2019t a direct side-by-side comparison<\/strong> where we tell you one option is better than the other. Rather, each course is a fit for different needs, experience levels, and contexts, so you can pick the one ideal for your specific situation.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Top 5 Courses to Help You Have Better Meetings and Accomplish More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This post covers courses from five different authors. Here\u2019s what you can expect to find in them in a nutshell:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Facilitating Meetings and Groups | Udemy<\/a> - a project management course focused program that will earn you 7 PMP credits and teach you how to conduct group meetings efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Courses for Leading Effective Meetings <\/a>|<\/a> Skillsoft<\/a> - a bundle of resources in different formats including books, audio books, and video presentations that focus primarily on wasting less time in meetings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Leading Effective Meetings | Udemy<\/a> - a great starting off point for first-time managers who have no experience with meetings and aren\u2019t comfortable facilitating them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to Have Fewer, Better Meetings | Linkedin<\/a> - a primer on having more productive group meetings and getting rid of the bad ones, including ways to objectively show a meeting is not worth having.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lighthouse Lessons: The 1 on 1 Master Class | GetLighthouse.com<\/a>\u00a0 - a comprehensive program with bite-sized, actionable lessons that will teach you everything about having amazing 1:1s meetings with your team (including more advanced strategies for seasoned leaders).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a more detailed look into what each course offers, who it\u2019s intended for, as well as some of the biggest pros and cons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFacilitating Meetings and Groups | Udemy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re a project manager, one of your most important tasks will be to facilitate group meetings effectively. This requires understanding everyone\u2019s perspectives and goals, knowing how to keep participants engaged, how to resolve disagreements, and encourage problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This course helps you do that and counts toward your PMP certification with 7.00 PDU credit hours. At 4 hours in length, it\u2019s one of the most comprehensive options we\u2019re covering in this post. It was created by LearnSmart, a company responsible for over 1,000 training programs and one that has worked with a broad range of Fortune 500 organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the program, you\u2019ll be guided through a self pre-assessment process and then taught concepts such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How to be a successful group meeting facilitator and what skills you should focus on<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The tools and strategies you need to guide everyone\u2019s attention and encourage participation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to arrive at decisions as a group and determine your next steps without people feeling left out<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to turn disagreements into actionable discussions and manage emotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The different leadership styles you can apply, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The course currently costs $85 but there are often discounts on Udemy so it may be a good idea to stay patient and wait for a better deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few things people didn\u2019t like about LearnSmart\u2019s course you should be aware of if you\u2019re considering purchasing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s comprehensive at 4 hours long, people have complained about it being unnecessarily drawn out at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, some of the course slides were overwhelmingly full of text and difficult to focus on while listening to the narrator at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, there were issues of typos in presentation materials that isn\u2019t mission-critical, but you\u2019d expect a better finishing touch from an organization with so much experience creating courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Facilitating Meetings in Groups\u2019 is a great option for project managers looking to get or maintain their certification. However, it\u2019s not oriented toward individual meetings or helping you improve your soft skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLeading Effective Meetings | Skillsoft<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As the name suggests, this is a program of multiple resources bundled together. They include 3 video lessons for project managers that last a bit under 2 hours in total, as well as 7 e-books and 9 audio books on having better meetings from various experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the first course on the list, the video material gets you 2 PMP credit hours, but the rest of the content is not focused specifically on project management skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It includes books that provide advice on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The best meeting tools\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to take notes efficiently<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Research-based ways to make meetings less wasteful<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50+ activities for virtual meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Having less repetitive meetings, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This course is available with a Skillsoft subscription that costs around $20\/month and offers a 14-day free trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As comprehensive as these resources are, you\u2019re not going to get insights from them quickly. After you complete the video material (which was created specifically for project managers), you\u2019ll be reading through or listening to several books on various meeting topics, which takes quite a bit of time. If you\u2019re a busy manager with a crazy schedule, that may be a deal-breaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This course was created primarily with group meetings in mind and offers no guidance for your 1:1s or other smaller-sided meetings. With that being said, the variety of topics, authors, and skills makes this a great pick for project managers looking to develop in other areas - especially given you\u2019ll receive access to other useful courses on Skillsoft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLeading Effective Meetings | Udemy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This course represents a good foundation for first-time managers who have no experience with structuring and facilitating meetings. It covers some of the meeting essentials you\u2019ll need as you\u2019re starting out, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The different types of meetings you need to have<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Starting off strong in meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Knowing what to do when the meeting is over<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Encouraging team members to contribute to the discussion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It places special emphasis on how you spend the time leading up to a meeting, choosing what topics to discuss, and making the most of it with an agenda. It also teaches you how to stay accountable, set goals, and follow through on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike the other courses on this list, \u2018Leading Effective Meetings\u2019 gives advice on how to create simple, yet compelling presentations and keep team members engaged. It also guides you on when you actually need presentations to get your point across and when you\u2019re better off without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the other Udemy course on this list, you may want to wait for one of their discount offers. Otherwise you'll find the full price is $95.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The biggest issue with this course can be summed up by the following review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u201cA lot of time spent explaining items that could've been discussed in less than 1 min\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
As we mentioned, this is a course specifically for new managers, but it falls into the trap of over-explaining simple ideas. As a result, it makes you spend time on broad topics while not including enough examples or tips specific to real-life examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially If you\u2019re just starting out as a manager, you need pointers you can to apply to your job immediately and something that\u2019s not super obvious. Unfortunately, you\u2019ll have to listen to some pretty obvious things to get through this course. Presentation-wise, people have also complained about the narrator talking too quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Generally speaking, this is a good course for new managers who want to learn at a slow pace but it won\u2019t offer much beyond that. If you\u2019re a more experienced leader, you won\u2019t have the patience to go the unnecessary padded sections of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Have Fewer, Better Meetings | Linkedin<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s have more meetings\u201d<\/em>, said no one, ever. A study published in HBR<\/a> reported that 65% of workers said that meetings keep them from completing their own work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation has only gotten worse since the beginning of COVID-19 and the emergence of the dreaded \u2018Zoom fatigue\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help you counter this, the 37-minute course teaches you methods for deciding which meetings are worth having and saying \u2018no\u2019 to the wasteful ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can think of it as a primer for helping you adopt healthier meeting habits. It offers 2-3 minute videos on things like preparing for meetings, defining their purpose, engaging attendees, avoiding common meeting mistakes, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The course was created by Kevan Hall, an author who published 4 books on leadership<\/a> and the CEO of a company that specializes in executive coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s different about this course compared to the others on the list is that you\u2019ll learn a systematic process for cutting out a large percentage of your unnecessary meetings. People have also praised the author\u2019s clear delivery and practical tips included in the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can get this course with a 30-day free trial of Linkedin Learning (after which you\u2019ll have to pay $20\/month) and easily cancel the subscription if you don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At 37 minutes long, \u2018How to Have Fewer, Better Meetings\u2019 should be seen as a secondary resource that complements more comprehensive programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also tends to focus more on telling you what to avoid than telling you what to do. Its narrow focus makes it an incomplete course if you\u2019re a new manager looking to learn the essentials of running great meetings, but it tells you how you can avoid common mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the reviewers also points out an inconsistency: in one place, the instructor talks about your subjective opinion being a criterion for deciding if a meeting was successful. However, in a later chapter, he explains that you should only consider whether the agreed-upon objective of the meeting was achieved. And with only 37 minutes of content, you\u2019re not going to get enough nuance to understand the difference between those competing suggestions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Despite the course being short, the author\u2019s experience, context-specific and actionable insights make this a great option if your goal is to systematically cut out unnecessary meetings, and do so fast. On the other hand, it\u2019s not a good fit for you if you\u2019re a new manager and want to learn the ins and outs of how to do your job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLighthouse Lessons: The 1 on 1s Master Class<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Our contribution to this list is focused on the most important meeting for managers: the 1 on 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This program was designed for managers with busy schedules who want actionable insights they can apply to their team without being overwhelmed by hours of content. You can benefit from it regardless of your professional background and is great for anyone from beginner to mid-level of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 1 on 1s Master Class\u201d is the only course on this list that focuses on 1:1 meetings specifically<\/strong>. It covers a variety of topics to provide a lot of depth so you really understand the versatility of 1 on 1s, including how to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Start 1:1s, prepare an agenda for them, and build consistency<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to prevent turnover of your best people by keeping their role fresh and growing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Build trust, rapport, and psychological safety to have healthy relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Give feedback to drive improvement and high performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use the meetings for both your best and struggling employees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What *not* to do in 1 on 1 meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More advanced techniques for senior managers like managing up, peer 1:1s, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The lessons are bite-sized, but comprehensive. This is possible because they\u2019re stretched out across 11 weeks to give you plenty of time to act on what you learn; you get 1 lesson per week, each with advice on specific actions to take right away to apply what you learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another key benefit is that you can also get the Group Edition of the program to take the course with other managers at your company. When you do, you\u2019ll receive a discussion agenda each week to get all the managers on your team talking about the lesson, sharing stories, and supporting one another, all without having to do any prep for that meeting yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a ~$100 price tag, Lighthouse Lessons represents great value for your money. Prices always go up as the kickoff date approaches, so reserve your spot as early as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The 1 on 1s Master Class focuses solely on 1 on 1s, so it won\u2019t help you have better stand-ups, project planning, or brainstorming sessions with your team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And as bite-sized as the lessons are (each one takes ~15 minutes to read and plan your weekly actions), 12 weeks of lessons mean you\u2019re committing to making changes for the foreseeable future. It also doesn\u2019t count any time you spend on further reading, watching videos, listening to related podcasts, or going deeper on a subject we discuss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Lighthouse Lessons, It\u2019s impossible to just fly through everything in a single weekend like you could a book or some of the courses above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, if you get the group edition, that\u2019s another weekly meeting you\u2019ll have to schedule with your team. It\u2019s up to you to decide whether you want to make such a commitment, but you can read how Jornaya<\/a>, a three-time participant of Lighthouse Lessons, benefited from the programs and especially the Group Edition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Get this course if you don\u2019t have time for hours and hours of training material, but you do want something actionable that you'll be able to see the difference quickly. That said, it is focused on 1 on 1 meetings only, so if you want to learn how to facilitate group meetings or improve your presentation skills, this isn\u2019t a good fit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With the help of the right course, you\u2019ll be on your way to improving in one of the most important leadership areas - having great meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you need to lead better team meetings as a project manager, then Facilitating Great Meetings from Udemy<\/a> is your best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for the best bundle and have enough time to level up by using multiple books, audiobooks, and video training modules, Courses for Leading Effective Meetings from Skillsoft<\/a> is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linkedin\u2019s How to Have Better, Fewer Meetings<\/a> is a shorter video course that will teach you how to say no to wasteful group meetings, and set and follow up on clearly defined objectives in the ones you do have. It\u2019s going to have the best time vs. impact results at just 37 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second Udemy course on this list, Having Effective Meetings<\/a>, is a good fit if you\u2019re just starting out and facilitating individual and group meetings for the first time ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, Lighthouse Lessons, \u201cThe 1 on 1s Master Class\u201d<\/a> is great if you\u2019re a really busy manager but need highly actionable tips to specifically improve your 1:1s. It also has a Group Edition all your managers can enroll in if you want a group to improve together. Because of the depth of each lesson and length of the program, it can help you improve regardless of whether you\u2019re starting out or are looking to tune and level up your 1 on 1s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 1 on 1s Master Class starts soon, so to reserve your spot at the best price, reserve your spot here now<\/a>. Or get the course for your entire team and see everyone improve the quality of their most important meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you and your managers <\/strong>wasting<\/em><\/strong> their 1 on 1s?<\/strong>
There is no greater investment to make in your team than having 1 on 1s. Yet, done poorly they\u2019re a huge waste of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s why we made the 1 on 1 Master Class. You and your fellow managers learn step by step how to supercharge these meetings to motivate your teams, fix problems, coach your people, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can learn how Lighthouse Lessons can help your leaders like we helped SeedBox Technologies by signing up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Courses for Leading Effective Meetings <\/a>|<\/a> Skillsoft<\/a> - a bundle of resources in different formats including books, audio books, and video presentations that focus primarily on wasting less time in meetings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Facilitating Meetings and Groups | Udemy<\/a> - a project management course focused program that will earn you 7 PMP credits and teach you how to conduct group meetings efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n