## The organization of a Board of Directors

Companies in any field frequently meet with their board of directors to agree on major strategic decisions. This formal meeting must be well organized and conducted efficiently to facilitate the exchange and communication with the board members. It is, therefore, essential to use the necessary digital tools to improve the organization and follow-up of these meetings. These technological solutions must meet security requirements to allow secure communication and access.
Do you need help to ensure effective follow-up and organization of your board meetings? Then, we have the solution to help you!
WEDO is a meeting management tool that lends itself perfectly to preparing and monitoring boards of directors for many reasons. We suggest you discover 7 steps that show you how our collaborative platform supports the organization of Boards of Directors.

 🗓️ 👩‍💼👨‍💼🧑‍💼

## 1. Prepare your CA

### 📂 Organize the documents

If you are involved in preparing for your company's Board of Directors meetings, first organize all the documents that will be presented at the meeting, such as financial reports, sales reports, and marketing updates. Ensuring all documents are well-given, complete, and easy to understand is essential.

###  ✍🏻 Prepare reports

If you are responsible for presenting reports, prepare them well before the meeting. Ensure they are clear, and concise and contain all the relevant information for the meeting.

###  ❔ Identify key issues

Finally, before the meeting, identify the key issues or areas of concern that will be addressed during the session. Then, be prepared to offer ideas, suggestions, or recommendations if necessary.

Once you have prepared these initial points, focus on establishing the topics discussed at the meeting: your agenda.

##  2. Set the agenda

###  📣 Determine what topics to address

Topics discussed at board meetings may vary depending on the organization. They may include:

- financial reports;
- operational updates; and
- Strategic planning;
- Risk management;
- legal compliance;
- Ongoing projects;
- Voting;
- and other matters of importance to the organization.

###  📋 Create your base frame

The items discussed are often the same from one board to the next. Be sure to identify recurring themes to save valuable time preparing for future meetings.

###  🗣️ Choose theme presenters

The speakers may vary depending on the theme. Therefore, it is essential to define who should prepare the agenda items or simply who will be the presenters of the topic. This will reinforce the collaborative aspect of the preparation of the meeting. All members will be involved in the upcoming session.

###  📎 Joignez les fichiers aux bonnes thématiques

Au préalable, l’idée est de préparer les documents et rapports à partager avec votre CA. Prenez le temps en amont d’également les joindre aux différentes thématiques de votre ordre du jour afin que les participants puissent les lire et les annoter avant le jour J. Une réunion bien préparée améliorera son efficacité ! 

##  3. Manage access to the meeting

It is expected that access to a CA meeting needs to be finely managed to choose who can see what and especially when. If your tool allows it, try to control the access to the meeting and the role of your participants according to its stages. This will enable you to prepare your agenda according to these different rights and not worry about access beyond the preparation. Determine who are editors, readers, or those who do not have access.

##  4. Integrate the votes

#### 🗳️ Determine voters

Choose who is allowed to vote. Then determine how you will collect the results. Different options are possible:

- digital votes by each voter ;
- a show of hands during the session;
- and collecting votes, with the secretary transcribing the results at the end of the meeting.

####  ☑️ Allocate shares

Voting is integral to the Board of Directors' process since members are often asked to vote on strategic decisions affecting the company. Therefore, be sure to allocate shares according to the decision-making weight of each voter.

####  🟢 Require quorum

In the event of a vote, and if you have allocated shares, you must verify at the beginning of each board meeting that a quorum is present. A quorum is the minimum number of shares based on those present at the meeting.

####  👤 Allow anonymous voting

Determine for a meeting whether you will allow anonymous voting. This should be determined before the meeting, or at least before voting opens.

####  🚫 Hide voting results until close

Depending on the internal operation, it may be necessary to hide the votes until they are closed. Ensure this is the case for the votes processed during your board of directors.

####  🔨 Write pre-decisions

To save time processing the votes, you can write the pre-decisions resulting from them. This is possible if you can imagine the outcomes of the votes. You can prepare a pre-decision for each possible answer. 

##  5. Write the minutes

###  💻 Writing by the Secretary

For this very formal meeting, the writing of the minutes is usually entrusted to a secretary. Here is how this person will compose their minutes.

#### ✍🏻 Paragraphs

Add well-structured paragraphs to reflect the discussions in the plenary. The idea is to proceed systematically and be as transparent as possible while favoring a simple style and short sentences. Think about your future readers from the start!

#### 🗳️ Votes

During the drafting process, validate the votes prepared beforehand and decide on the final decision.

#### 🔨 Decisions

Highlight essential decisions made during the board meeting. The idea is that from the minutes, each member can see all the strategic decisions that the meeting has decided upon.

#### ✅ Tasks

Make a clear list of tasks that flow from the decisions approved by the board. You can also already assign tasks to the people in charge, determining their priority and due date. By doing this, you will have your members up and running by the end of the meeting. Then, everyone knows what needs to be done and by when.

###  👀 Private note-taking by members

####  ✏️ Add private notes to the minutes

Encourage your members to prepare in advance by taking private notes. The idea is also to have them write their notes and comments during the meeting to ensure they understand what is expected.

####  📝 Annotate attached files

The notes can also be added directly to the files and documents attached to the agenda and meeting minutes. The goal is for members to find their written interventions exactly where they belong.

##  6. Follow up on tasks

Track the progress of tasks from one meeting to the next to ensure that deadlines are met. Then, if your tool allows it, simply import your tasks into the next meeting's agenda to see if they were completed on time.

##  7. Give access to the minutes

At the end of the meeting and after the proofreading stage, control access to the minutes so that each member can review the minutes of the discussions. This will allow members to record everything that was discussed during the meeting. At the end, share the minutes with all members to encourage them to review them as soon as possible after the board meeting.

##  ✅ WEDO's advantages for your CA management

We talked earlier about the importance of choosing an excellent tool to manage and track the progress of your board meetings. WEDO develops the ideal collaborative platform for efficient meeting management. So why will our solution be your best ally for board meetings? Here is a summary:

**📋 You collaboratively prepare your agenda.**
![bod-prepare-agenda.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/bod_prepare_agenda_7476ddda20.png)

**🔐 You manage access to the meeting.**
![bod-access-meeting.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/bod_access_meeting_ac15c4df9d.png)

**🗳️ You integrate the votes into your board.**
![bod-votes.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/bod_votes_c631be7608.png)

**⌨️ You write your report in real-time directly on the platform and allow the participants to take their private notes.**
![ca-writing-minutes.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/ca_writing_minutes_7aa178ad22.png)

**✅ You track tasks from one meeting to the next by importing ongoing and completed tasks.**
![bod-tasks-tracking.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/bod_tasks_tracking_21b36c4285.png)

**👀 You provide access to the minutes directly after the meeting and email them to members from the platform.**
![ca-access-meeting-minutes.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/ca_access_meeting_minutes_b8cb3e8b91.png)

>**Do you want to test WEDO for your next board meeting? Then, our experts will introduce you to the tool and help you prepare your first agenda in 30 minutes.**

::button-primary[Contact our experts]{link="/demo"}

## Some examples of our clients who use WEDO to manage their board of directors
![wedo-customer-board-of-directors.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/wedo_customer_board_of_directors_d91a634e29.png)



Efficiently organize & conduct board meetings w/ WEDO - a secure, digital meeting management tool. Enhance communication & follow-up with our 7-step collaborative platform.

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Organize your Board of Directors with WEDO

## What are meeting minutes?

Minutes are a **summary of the exchanges and discussions observed** during a meeting, as well as the decisions made and actions taken. A meeting is considered successful when it is followed by minutes that are quickly distributed containing all the key information: what was discussed, who did what and when and what tasks resulted from the decisions. The meeting minutes specify:

* Attendees
* Absentees (as well as those excused)
* The place of the meeting
* The date of the meeting

Each item discussed should include:

* Presenter
* A summary of the main discussions
* Decisions made
* The tasks delegated during the meeting, assigned to specific person, with a deadline if possible

## The important role of the editor

The editor plays an important role in the success of the meeting. Often, this person in charge of preparing the meeting is also responsible for writing the minutes and distributing the final version to all participants. Therefore, the writer must have a certain number of qualities: precision, systematism, ability to listen, speed and organization are all essential assets for a meeting to be well conducted from its preparation to its conclusion.

## 1\. Prepare your agenda

For a meeting to be optimal, it is of course necessary to devote a significant amount of time to its preparation. Therefore, the writer, supported by the organizer, must prepare the agenda conscientiously while keeping in mind the objectives of the meeting. The agenda allows the participants to be presented with the topics to be discussed in advance. Its main purpose is to facilitate the meeting on the day. During the meeting, whether face-to-face or by videoconference, the points will be discussed in chronological order, which is why the agenda must be designed with this in mind beforehand. To facilitate the conduct of the meeting, the writer can add paragraphs and files to the agenda in order to provide sufficient documentation and make it accessible to the participants. A carefully prepared agenda will promote an efficient and operational meeting!

## 2\. Check the agenda before the meeting

Ideally, the agenda should be prepared collaboratively. Each participant should be able to contribute to the agenda item for which they are responsible. If you do this in your organization, the writer should check the content of the agenda before the day of the meeting. This way, he or she will have in mind the topics to be covered and the order in which they will be discussed. By checking the agenda, the writer will keep in mind the main theme of the meeting and will probably be able to optimize the writing of the minutes.

## 3\. Sum up the essence of the discussions

In order to ensure that the minutes of the discussions can be consulted and understood by everyone, the writer must demonstrate a strong ability to sum up while striving to remain clear enough to accurately convey the exchanges. Indeed, those who are not present must be able to understand the essence of the discussions and the decisions made by reading the minutes. Sentences that are too complex would make the reading tedious. This is why the writer must be concise and able to summarize the sometimes complex discussions.

## 4\. Write systematically

During the meeting, the type of writing reserved for the minutes is an important element that will determine the quality of the report. Indeed, it is advisable to proceed in a systematic way. This approach will have the advantage of allowing the writer to improve his or her efficiency and to have a clear framework for the report in mind. It will also make reading easier. So, if you are writing a report, try to think of the best way to construct your writing. For example, you could compose each of your points in the following way:

* Add paragraphs, to capture the essence of the discussion
* Highlight the decisions you are making
* List the tasks arising from the decisions - naming a person responsible for each task

In short, each of your points will be articulated between paragraphs, decisions and tasks. By having such a framework in mind, you will avoid forgetting and will remain attentive to the importance of decision-making, a dimension that is sometimes lacking when you reach the end of the meeting.

## 5\. Highlighting decisions

As already mentioned, it is very important to highlight all the decisions made during the meeting. Let's not forget that meetings are often used to decide on different topics in order to progress towards the set objectives. Therefore, always ask yourself at the end of a paragraph if a validated decision deserves to be highlighted. By being attentive to the highlighting of decisions, you will also make it easier for participants or those who are not present to reread the document.

## 6\. Define and delegate tasks during the meeting

Too often, at the end of a meeting, participants do not know what needs to be done and especially who is responsible for the actions to be taken. In order to make employees operational at the end of the meeting, make sure to clearly define the actions to be carried out from one meeting to the next. Also appoint a person responsible for each task - even if it means specifying all the people concerned by the task in question. If you can, also specify the due date so that the person in charge knows the deadline for completing the task.

## 7\. Make a summary point at the end of the meeting

This tip is for those who wish to make a "summary" point in order to facilitate the rereading of the minutes. This approach will also have the advantage of anchoring in the minds of the participants the important elements such as the major decisions that were decided upon. For example, a summary can include only the most important decisions or the tasks that need to be completed in priority before the next status meeting. You can also present your summary in a bulleted list - the important thing is to keep it short and to the point.

## 8\. Proofread and correct the minutes quickly

There is no need to specify how essential it is to reread the minutes at the end of the meeting. It is best to do this sometimes tedious work directly after the meeting. This way, the writer will still have the essence of the discussions in mind and will be able to provide accurate and efficient work. Once it has been proofread, the minutes can be shared quickly with all the participants so that they are immediately operational. Those who are not present will be able to take note of the discussions and also carry out the actions for which they may be responsible.

## Summary

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2021_05_visual_8_tips_to_improve_your_meeting_minutes_2_1024x576_ad00334b94.png)

## Digital tools make it easier to write your minutes

After reviewing these 8 tips, we can see how difficult the editor's job is. But how do you easily cover all of these recommendations in order to effectively write your meeting minutes?

Fortunately, there are many collaborative tools that offer to help you in this sometimes tedious and time-consuming task. WEDO will accompany you before, during and after the meeting so that you can focus on the essential: the success of your meeting. By collaborating during all the stages of the meeting, you will also promote the proper conduct of the _meeting_. Indeed, the editor must be supported by all the participants, all responsible for the success of the meeting.

With WEDO you can make your meetings more efficient by writing the minutes in real time. Many features allow you to add content easily: paragraphs, decisions, tasks and files are all elements that will feed your minutes. What is the best feature with WEDO? You can take advantage of a powerful search tool! In a few clicks, and using the right keyword, launch a search through the content of your meetings, decisions, tasks or even files. You can instantly access what you are looking for! It's so easy to write minutes with WEDO that you won't have to waste time rewriting them after the meeting. Make your meetings more efficient!

The role of the meeting writer is essential, but it is by no means an easy task and requires a number of skills. Do you regularly have to write meeting minutes? Then this article was written for you! Discover 8 tips to improve your meeting minutes.

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8 tips to improve your meeting minutes

**HR Today is the Swiss media of reference in the field of human resources management. On April 28, 2021, an article dedicated to remote meetings was published in the special Remote Work section. The article refers to WEDO as the ideal collaborative solution for efficient remote meetings.**

Remote collaboration is now a daily issue for all companies. WEDO offers a tool to manage meetings, tasks and projects. Each team member can contribute to the preparation of meetings, write minutes or even take note of the tasks he/she has to perform from any location.

The digitalization of companies has led to an increase in the exchange of information between employees. Recently, remote work has further increased this problem. Although tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams facilitate exchanges and communication, they do not solve the lack of information structure. As a result, employees find themselves drowning in a flood of information and often suffer from a time-consuming disease: acute meeting fatigue. Meetings and their follow-up take a lot of time, the management of delegated tasks is tedious and it is difficult to know who does what and until when. WEDO is the solution that enables organizations to collaborate efficiently. \[...\]

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2021_04_smartmockups_knhgyzdy_1024x682_099a323f24.png)

::button-primary[Read the rest of the article]{link="https://hrtoday.ch/de/article/eine-kollaborative-plattform-fuer-effiziente-sitzungen"}


In April, HR Today proposes to take a look at the very current topic of "Working from home". The Swiss media presents WEDO as an ideal solution to efficiently manage remote meetings. Discover in this article how our tool facilitates your virtual meetings.

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A collaborative platform for efficient remote meetings

## Assigning roles before the meeting

At the end of a meeting, it is very common for participants to question the real purpose of the meeting. Poor preparation, lack of structure, poorly defined objectives, lack of clear decisions, a missing of general commitment and role assignment are all causes that can compromise the success of your meeting. One of the key steps in preparing for the meeting is to define the roles of the participants so that they can prepare for the meeting, ensure that it runs smoothly and that the objectives are achieved. In order to promote optimal commitment from the entire team, each employee must understand his or her role. As is too often imagined, the involvement of participants is not limited to the day of the meeting. To ensure the effectiveness of the meeting, participants have a role to play **before**, **during** and **after** the meeting.

## The 4 key roles

### 1\. The organizer: a facilitator

To ensure the success of your meeting, it is best to have someone in charge of its organization. The organizer acts as a reference throughout the process and defines the objectives of the meeting. He or she justifies the need for the meeting to the participants as well as the expectations that arise from it. During the meeting, he/she also acts as a facilitator and facilitates exchanges. Key qualities? The facilitator is organized, communicates with ease and knows how to set realistic objectives.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2021_04_organizer_wedo_2021_1024x576_a81c3d4795.png)

### 2\. The editor: secretary of the meeting

The editor is obviously one of the main roles and contributes greatly to the success of the meeting. Throughout the process, he/she feeds the content and keeps the participants informed. As such, the editor must be attentive and concise in order to capture the essence of the discussions.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2021_04_editor_wedo_2021_1024x576_bc83b2b1fd.png)

### 3\. The time keeper

Appointing a time keeper for each of your meetings will prevent you from running out of time and prolonging the meeting. This person will be responsible, on the day, for informing the organizer if the time scheduled for an item is exceeded. Therefore, the organizer of the meeting must define the total time of the meeting beforehand, or better yet, define the time allowed for each point. However, the time keeper will not have any particular role to play after the meeting; he or she will only be required to read the minutes carefully, just like the other participants.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2021_04_time_keeper_wedo_2021_1024x576_7b6fcb4177.png)

### 4\. The participants, prepared and proactive

While the roles of the organizer and the editor are essential, each participant is expected to be involved in making the meeting count. To ensure the effectiveness of the meeting, participants should be attentive and actively involved in the discussion when requested. This means asking all the questions necessary for the successful completion of their respective tasks and ensuring that they have all the resources they need.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2021_04_participants_en_wedo_2021_1024x576_cb65ecaf87.png)

## Organization in time

According to these 4 roles, let's now look in detail at the organization in time for each of these people. **Before the meeting**, it will be necessary to prepare and share the agenda items with the collaborators concerned so that everyone is on the same page. This will ensure the quality and duration of your meetings. **During the meeting**, you will write the minutes by adding notes, decisions and tasks to the agenda items in real time. You won't waste time rewriting the minutes after the meeting. **After the meeting**, each participant should be able to instantly access the minutes and take note of what needs to be done from one meeting to the next.

## Before the meeting

### The Organizer

The meeting organizer **determines the date** and **location** of the meeting. He/she is then responsible for **drawing up the agenda** by defining in a logical order the topics that will be discussed. He/she must also **describe the role of each participant** and ask himself/herself which people should be called to participate in order to invite only those who have a real impact on the meeting. Once the **participants have been selected**, the organizer can **foster collaborative preparation** of the meeting by asking the speakers to prepare, in advance, the points they will be presenting.

### The Editor

In collaboration with the organizer, the editor is the guarantor of a well-completed and organized **agenda**. Both of them compose the framework of the meeting and think about the logical order of the items to be discussed. It is also important that the editor **attaches the necessary external documents** to the agenda so that the participants can read them before the big day. Once the agenda has been validated, the editor **makes it available to the participants** in order to inform them in advance of the topics that will be discussed during the meeting.

### The Timekeeper

The person who will be responsible for keeping the meeting on schedule **finds out from the organizer** how long the meeting will last. Ideally, both **define the time given for each item** so as not to exceed the total time limit for the meeting.

### The Participants

It is essential that each participant has familiarized himself/herself with the agenda prior to the D day. This will allow everyone to be engaged and feel a sense of ownership of the meeting. It is common for some participants to act as speakers during a meeting. They can therefore **fill in the agenda** to prepare and document their contributions. This will greatly facilitate the smooth running of the meeting and save precious time for the entire team. If the participants do not have an agenda item to write, they can still **take notes privately** in order to prepare their statements, questions or reactions to a given topic. This way, on the day of the meeting, they will not forget important elements and will avoid having to contact a colleague after the meeting to ask questions that have already been answered.

## During the meeting

### The Organizer

During the meeting, the organizer acts as **leader**. The organizer's first priority is to ensure that the agenda is respected and to avoid any distractions that could prolong the meeting unnecessarily. As an introduction, it is a good idea to remind participants of the purpose of the meeting so that everyone feels involved from the start.

In most cases, the organizer also assumes the **role of facilitator** to ensure the quality of the exchanges and discussions. He or she must ensure that the debate does not get out of hand and that each participant has the opportunity to express his or her opinion on the subject at hand. The goal is to **maintain a positive atmosphere** that is supportive of constructive discussion.

In order to facilitate note-taking and ensure the traceability of important exchanges, the **organizer** collaborates closely throughout the meeting **with the editor**. The organizer ensures that the editor has enough time to summarize the discussions and, above all, to record the decisions that result from them.

In conclusion, it is advisable to **remind** all participants of the **major** **decisions** that have just been made. The organizer should also emphasize important next steps: Should the date of the next meeting be set? Is each participant aware of his or her tasks and responsibilities? The goal is to ensure effective follow-up from one meeting to the next.

### The Editor

At the time of the meeting, the editor **writes the minutes** of the discussions, taking care to be concise and systematic. The important thing is to note the essential points, sometimes taking the risk of shortcuts, so as not to lose the thread of the discussions. Formulations and spelling can be reviewed later during the proofreading phase. The most important thing when taking notes in real time is to **highlight the decisions** made during the meeting so that they are clear to all the participants. In a more operational approach, the editor also takes charge of **delegating any tasks** resulting from the decisions to the people concerned.

### The Timekeeper

During the meeting, the timekeeper keeps a constant eye on his watch to ensure that the meeting's timing is respected. If necessary, he or she will not hesitate to discreetly call out to the organizer to point out that the time limit has expired. The facilitator can then shorten the discussion by getting to the point in order to make a decision. At the end of the meeting, the _time keeper_ announces the end of the timing to all participants.

### The Participants

Too often, participants in a meeting are distracted and more likely to check their cell phones than to pay attention to the discussion. When we attend a meeting, we need to **be 100% attentive** in order to get the essential points across. It is especially important to **be attentive to the decisions** that the meeting is making in order to **keep in mind the final objectives** and contribute to their successful completion. Listening, **contributing to the discussion** and not getting distracted are all part of the responsibilities of each participant. In short, be active and involved during your team meetings!

Finally, participants should not hesitate to **ask questions** at the end of the meeting to ensure that they have understood the tasks for which they are responsible. It is essential to think about the operational part of the meeting so that the activities performed are a success for the whole team.

## After the meeting

### The Organizer

After the meeting, the organizer **ensures that the tasks are completed** and that each participant does not encounter any difficulties that could prevent him/her from progressing and reaching the objectives. With the help of the editor, he/she allows each participant to access the minutes of the meeting so that everyone can review the content, take note of the tasks assigned and the next deadlines.

### The Editor

After the meeting, the **Editor** reviews the notes taken live in order to format them, complete them and correct them if necessary. The goal is to make the speakers' words as clear as possible. Once the minutes of the discussions have been reviewed and validated, the editor also makes sure that all the documents to be transmitted are made available to the participants. Once this is done, **the minutes can be sent to all the participants** who can then refer to them if necessary. The minutes must be precise enough to be understood by those who were not present at the meeting or by other external members. A careful and organized transcript will promote effective communication between employees and facilitate the organization of the next meeting.

### The Participants

No more than 24 hours after receiving the minutes validated by the organizer, the participants must **read them carefully**. It is much easier to read the minutes when the meeting is fresh and you still have the main objectives in mind. Each participant should then take the time to **note down all the tasks** that have been assigned to them. They will make sure to **respect the deadlines** for these tasks, especially if they must be completed by the next meeting. If necessary, participants will not hesitate to ask for help from their managers to ensure that the objectives are met in the time given. And remember, asking for help is not an admission of weakness, quite the contrary!

## Bonus: preparation, the key phase of the meeting

Through this article, we see how **well-defined roles promote an effective meeting**. This is why **the preparation phase is essential** for a good meeting. If you take the time to properly prepare your meeting, by defining the objectives, inviting the right people, assigning them specific roles and carefully preparing your agenda and its timing, your meeting will be a real success! We have listed 4 key roles here, but it goes without saying that there are many other important roles: the **decision-maker** or the **mediator** are all roles that can be assigned according to your internal policy. It is simply a matter of each participant being aware of his or her impact on the smooth running of the meeting and on the achievement of the objectives. It is often forgotten that organizing a meeting is a real team effort and is not the sole responsibility of its initiator. By adopting this approach, you will undoubtedly improve the efficiency of your company meetings! Of course, there are digital tools that will help you make your meetings efficient.

With WEDO you can prepare your meetings as a team, write the minutes in real time and track the tasks assigned from one meeting to the next.

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}
::button-primary[Try WEDO for free]{link="/signup"}


Whether you are organizing or participating in a meeting, you have a role to play in ensuring its effectiveness. It is clear that a meeting that involves and engages all participants will be successful. Ensure that your objectives are met by defining 4 key roles that will guarantee the optimal organization of your meetings.

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4 Key Roles for Effective Meetings

The causes of an ineffective meeting can be multiple: poor preparation, repetition, lack of commitment from the participants, poorly defined objectives, sterile debates, endless discussions that do not lead to any decision making... so many disappointments that weaken the productivity of your work teams. 

But how can we overcome the scourge of unproductive meetings? The solution lies in the implementation of simple practices that are, to say the least, essential to the smooth running of a working session. 

## 1\. Invite participants to prepare in advance by collaborating around the agenda

To begin with, all agendas for your meetings should be set and circulated in advance. A meeting is only effective if all participants are willing to contribute to the discussion. As a team leader, invite participants to prepare their contributions in advance to ensure the quality of future discussions. The best way to achieve this goal is to start by creating a common agenda that is accessible and modifiable by all team members. This will reinforce the engagement of the participants during the meeting since they will have contributed to its elaboration beforehand. Empower your teams by giving them a voice!

In addition to making your meetings more productive, working together to prepare for your meetings will be a first step towards a more inclusive internal culture. As a team leader, be sure to value everyone's ideas and contributions. Meetings are the ideal place to shape, grow and communicate your corporate culture.

With WEDO, create your agenda and invite your colleagues to contribute to the different items with the appropriate content (files, paragraphs, private notes...). This way you can collaborate on the preparation of your next team meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2020_03_1_meeting_agenda_wedo_1024x575_ae325113b3.png)

 Would you like to create collaborative agendas for your meetings? 

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}
::button-primary[Try WEDO for free]{link="/signup"}

## 2\. Ensure that everyone takes part in the discussions and respect everyone's speaking time.

On the day of the meeting, the initiator of the meeting must assume the role of "facilitator" by encouraging free exchange among participants. Be attentive to interactions by keeping a critical and constructive eye. It is also a matter of controlling the dynamics of the meeting while keeping the initial objectives in mind to ensure that they are achieved. Sometimes, one speaker can take precedence over more introverted others. To facilitate exchanges, make sure that everyone is able to give his or her opinion. Create a pleasant atmosphere for constructive and caring discussions among your team members.

What to do concretely when one or two people dominate the conversations?

* Go around the table to ask the opinions of the more discreet participants.
* Be aware of interruptions: if someone is interrupted, make sure they can finish what they are saying.
* Promote a caring environment by reminding that everyone's contribution is essential and that there are no "stupid" ideas or questions.

This environment will be conducive to generating ideas, making decisions and building stronger relationships to move forward together towards common goals.

Ineffective meetings are often characterized by their lengthy duration. If you can't manage to limit the time each person can speak, you will lose valuable time. Keep in mind that bringing a group of employees together in the same room represents a significant cost to the company.

Creating an agenda is the first step towards respecting your employees' time. It will help you stay focused on the purpose of the meeting while avoiding unnecessary digressions.

The second step is to highlight the importance of punctuality. If a participant tends to be late for team meetings, give them your comments as an aside.

Finally, respecting everyone's time also means being able to recognize when a meeting must be cancelled or shortened. If most members are absent or agenda items have already been dealt with at another time, don't monopolize your team's precious time and let them focus on their priorities and possible upcoming deadlines.

## 3\. Take a moment to review the work that has been done and ask questions about constraints and concerns.

As a leader, take the time to recognize the work done by your team during your meetings. Plenary encouragement will enhance the value of the whole group by providing a positive and constructive dynamic. In addition, this practice will have the advantage of subtly showing the way to those who have not worked according to your expectations. Public praise will encourage them to follow the example of what has earned your recognition.

However, make sure that you adapt to everyone's personality. While most people like to be publicly praised, some people may not like public recognition.

Alternatively, invite the rest of the group to give their opinion. You may wish to include a section dedicated to participant feedback in your agenda item list. This is a great way to encourage employees to recognize the work of their colleagues. Acknowledging the work done by your team will lead to a productive dynamic while creating strong group cohesion.

Due to poor communication, the front-line problems of an organization may not be known to management. To avoid this, hold bilateral meetings as well as team meetings to ask colleagues about blockers that could prevent them from doing their jobs.

As a team leader, valuing transparent communication will create an environment that is conducive to problem solving. If your employees are confident, they will dare to talk openly about the obstacles they encounter in their daily work. Together, you will be able to solve them in order to reach the objectives set. So invite your colleagues to talk about their concerns: at your team meetings, go around the table regularly so that everyone can express themselves freely and honestly.

## 4\. Establish efficient monitoring of activities

Follow-up actions are probably the most important part of your team meetings as they will help you achieve your goals. At the end of the meeting, your team members need to be clear about what is expected of them. It is a matter of answering the famous question of "who does what and for when". You don't organize meetings just to discuss various subjects: the main goal is to give substance to concrete actions. The follow-up to the meeting must therefore be treated with as much attention as its preparation. At the end of the meeting, already think about the next one in order to ensure an effective follow-up.

What is the best way to ensure effective monitoring of operations?

One of the most effective methods is to make a clear note after each topic discussed in the meeting of the tasks arising from it. Also think about directly assigning your tasks in order to get your team up and running as quickly as possible.

3 tips for writing clear and punchy tasks:

* Begin with an infinitive verb to suggest action
* Be as precise as possible! Think that the task must be understood by a third person.
* Assign a person responsible for each task and specify its deadline.

WEDO combines dynamic reporting with collaborative task management. Enter your tasks directly in meetings, delegate them to your colleagues and specifying their deadlines. Your team will be able to ensure the follow-up of operations at the end of the meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2020_03_2_assign_tasks_during_meeting_wedo_1024x575_6b9401c77f.png)

Would you like to create tasks directly during your meetings?

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}
::button-primary[Try WEDO for free]{link="/signup"}

## 5\. Share the report with all participants.

To ensure the success of the follow-up process, make sure to distribute the minutes of the meeting discussions. Your team members should have quick access to support that they can rely on to complete their tasks. A team meeting will fail if participants are not clear about what they need to do after the meeting. To facilitate communication, it is essential to make sure that the minutes of your discussion are well presented: highlight the collective decisions and the tasks to be carried out. Make sure that important information stands out clearly so that it is retained by your colleagues. The record of your discussions will ultimately validate the relevance of your meeting in the eyes of the participants.

With WEDO, distribute reports to participants in just a few clicks directly from the platform.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2020_03_3_send_meeting_minute_to_assignees_wedo_1024x575_72b855da94.png)

## 6\. Seek input from team members about meeting organization

The opinion of your colleagues counts and will allow you to optimize the conduct of your meetings. If your team is convinced of the relevance of your meetings, it will be better able to deliver quality work. Nobody likes wasting time! Moreover, giving employees the opportunity to express their opinions will also help you develop an inclusive culture and ensure that all your meetings will be useful in the future. Ask your team members concretely what they think would make your meetings more effective.

Alternatively, at the end of the meeting, ask your collaborators to give your meeting a score of 1 to 3 :

* 3: this meeting is well organized and allows me to achieve my objectives.
* 2: the meeting is useful but its organization needs improvement.
* 1: I feel that I have wasted my time, this meeting was not useful to me.

Invite each participant to indicate how many points they tune with their raised fingers and quickly survey the room. Finally, ask the most sceptical participants to communicate the points of improvement they feel are necessary.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2020_03_end_of_meeting_aa13165fe0.gif)

Do you want to improve the conduct of your team meetings using a technological and easy-to-use tool? WEDO is the solution to make your meetings useful and efficient!

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}
::button-primary[Try WEDO for free]{link="/signup"}

As a team leader, you are regularly called upon to organise meetings but are not convinced of their effectiveness? Rethink the organisation of your work sessions by observing a few key principles. Here are some tips that will improve the conduct of your meetings and the commitment of your teams. 

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6 tips for conducting an effective team meeting

## Rights management in meetings

In order to make meeting access rights even more flexible, we have added an option that will allow you to choose the specific items to which an attendee can have access. Here are the different access rights that are available: 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_11_1_droits_dacces_2_1024x715_488919b57e.png)

### Manage rights for each item

When you select the purple option to manage rights specifically, you must define the attendee’s access rights for each item. 

In the following example, _Cécile Mayor,_ quality manager, has access to most of the items in read-only mode and can edit items 3 and 5\. However, she will not be able to see the _Finance_ and _Human Resources_ items.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_11_3_gest1_1024x575_683ccc9ce0.png)

### Manage rights according to the meeting status 

You can also set the access rights according to the status of the meeting. By default, those having editing rights (green icon) can modify the items in each step. For instance, _Christiane Pittet_ can modify the content of the meeting regardless of its status:

1. Meeting agenda in preparation
2. Meeting agenda validated
3. Meeting minutes currently written
4. Meeting minutes in review

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_11_4_gestion_des_droits_par_etape_1024x575_e231624190.png)

However, if you do not want _Christiane_ to be able to edit the meeting agenda once it has been validated, you can modify the access rights according to the status of the meeting. Hence, attendees will only have reader rights once the meeting agenda has been validated.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_11_5_gestion_des_droits_par_etape_1024x575_906a13b44a.png)

For attendees who have reader rights only, you can prevent them from seeing the meeting agenda at certain steps. This can be useful if you wish that the draft steps (1 and 4) cannot be seen by other attendees. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_11_6_gestion_des_droits_par_etape_1024x575_ed356b36db.png)

## Complete tasks

From now on, complete your tasks by selecting the check boxes that precede them. Please note that you can always prioritize your tasks : the option to define a priority has simply been moved to the end of the line. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_11_7_terminer_des_taches_1024x575_ea695332f7.png)

Rights management in meetings has been revised to allow you to choose precisely who can see and modify the items of the meeting agenda. Another new feature: the version 40 of WEDO allows you to complete your tasks with just one click. 

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Rights management in meetings revised

## Terminology changes

Our terminology has been adapted. **Paragraphs** allow you to add a text box visible to all the attendees of a meeting. **Notes** are private and only visible to the user who adds them. An easy way to distinguish them is by their yellow background.

## Private notes

From now on, it is possible to add private notes to the items of your meeting agenda. This allows you to prepare your interventions for the upcoming meeting or to add private notes during the meeting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_1_notes_privees_1024x575_a6cdb0cb62.png)

## Converting elements

If you wish to share your private note with the other attendees, you can simply convert it into a paragraph. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_2_convertir_note_en_paragraphe_1024x575_a92c2a02b7.png)

To save valuable time, you can also convert most of the other elements: 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_3_conversion_d_elements_1_1024x329_220931708f.png)

Please note that it is not possible to convert a task into another element! 

## Ordering items

It is possible to order all the items of the meeting. Simply drag and drop an item to reorder it. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_4_ordre_de_elements_1024x575_124c4c92c0.png)

## Option « Table of attendees »

If you wish to have a detailed contact list of the meeting attendees, there is an option accessible through the settings of a meeting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_5_parametres_dune_reunion_1024x575_6ea65fc9df.png)

By selecting « extended table view » in the settings of the meeting, the table will appear in steps 2, 4 and 5\. The coordinates of the attendees are listed according to the information of each user’s profile. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_6_tableau_des_participants_1024x575_ac91837cea.png)

During the editing steps, the meeting agenda in preparation and the drafting of the meeting minutes, you can manually edit an attendee’s contact information. It is also possible to change an attendee’s function for a specific meeting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_7_editer_un_participant_1024x575_ce2682d04e.png)

## Link between a task and a meeting 

Tasks created in a meeting have a link in their details pane that allows you to easily access an item of the meeting agenda. This will allow you to view the task in its context of creation. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_8_lien_tache_reunion_1024x575_19c86d6606.png)

## General ergonomics

### Use the new + button to easily create content. 

You can create your **Workspaces**, **Checklist templates**, **Teams** and **Users** from the + button which is found in the heading at the top of the page.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_9_bouton_plus_1024x575_be06c4f954.png)

### Take advantage of the shortcuts in the main menu

Three buttons have been added to the menu for an easy access to the **Workspaces** and **Checklist templates** to which you have access, as well as to the **Users** page.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_10_raccourcis_menu_principal_1024x575_983d87326b.png)

The main menu has been redesigned for simplicity and efficiency; and presents a new palette of colors. 

Private notes allow you to prepare your interventions confidentially during meetings. This latest update includes a new platform design and new functionalities described in the following article. 

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Add private notes to your meetings

## 1 - Choose the density when exporting a report

More flexibility in the layout of your reports! Choose now the density of the exported document. Three densities are offered during configuration: compact, normal or wide. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_1_choisir_la_densite_1024x575_dff2e5545b.png)

## 2 - Assigning a logo to a team or workspace 

Until now, the logo of your organization chosen via the network settings was included in the header of all documents exported from WEDO. So that you can customize your exports - task lists or meeting minutes - you can now: assign a logo to a team and/or assign a logo to a workspace.

The choice of the logo is made from the parameters. Please refer to the following two articles to discover the functionality in detail :

[Team settings](https://help.wedo.swiss/fr/articles/3284167-parametres-d-une-equipe)

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_2_prametres_equipe_logo_1024x575_738ea1db00.png)

[Workspace settings](https://help.wedo.swiss/fr/articles/2576110-parametres-d-un-espace-de-travail)

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_3_prametres_espace_logo_1024x575_0929b05e02.png)

## 3 - Duplicating a workspace

With this update, you can now [duplicate a workspace](https://help.wedo.swiss/fr/articles/3284132-dupliquer-un-espace-de-travail). Duplication allows you to create a new workspace and take over all tasks and the contents of their detail panes. Completed tasks are also resumed.

### What are the benefits of this feature?

When setting up the network, you will save valuable time by duplicating workspaces that have a similar structure. It will not be necessary to set them up manually one by one! 

Another use case: in your network, many workspaces represent projects. Duplicate a workspace to plan a new project based on a previous one.

In the example below, the _Renovation Building A_ workspace is duplicated for a new, similar project.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_4_dupliquer_un_espace_de_travail_1024x575_75d7006620.png)

## 4 - Duplicating a checklist template

You can also [duplicate a checklist template](https://help.wedo.swiss/fr/articles/3284149-dupliquer-un-modele-de-checklists). Duplication allows you to create a new template and take over all tasks and the contents of their detail panes. Completed tasks are also resumed.

### What is the major advantage of this feature?

In your organization, you need to maintain procedures that have a similar structure and content. Duplicate a checklist template to save time and then link the duplicates to the teams involved in the procedure!

In the example below, the template _Onboarding collaborator_ is duplicated in order to be linked to the _Administration_ team.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_5_dupliquer_un_modele_de_checklists_1024x575_16101c1580.png)

## 5 - Delegating a task using a user's initials

To delegate a task to a colleague, simply enter their initials in the field provided. 

The procedure is the same for all places that have a field to search for a user: you only have to enter the initials of the person concerned to find him/her quickly!

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_6_recherche_utilisateur_par_initiales_1024x575_0b243fbce9.png)

## 6 - Instant search

Search indexing is now instantaneous! For example, if you create a task, it is directly accessible via the search tool. The same goes for searching through meetings, decisions or files. In the search results, WEDO shows you the number of hits found.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_08_7_recherche_instantane_1024x575_5243339e50.png)

Multiple new features for version 38 of WEDO: change the density of exported documents, assign a logo to your teams and workspaces, duplicate your checklist spaces and templates, and take advantage of the improvements made to the search tool. 

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WEDO V38: 6 improvements to discover

To prepare and conduct your meetings, WEDO guides you in 5 steps: 

* **Before the meeting – Steps 1 and 2** : preparation of the agenda as a team. The writer or facilitator adds the meeting, establishes the list of items to be discussed and then invites participants to complete the agenda.
* **During the meeting - Step 3 :** the writer writes the minutes in real time. All participants can attend live note-taking.
* **Post-meeting - Steps 4 and 5 :** the writer and participants review, edit and validate the meeting minutes.

Through this article, discover some tips to conduct your meetings with WEDO taking into account the 5 proposed steps. You will see that at each step, it is possible to keep the participants informed and make them aware of their role in the preparation and follow-up of the meeting. To give substance to our explanations, we propose a concrete case study:

### The preparation and follow-up of an Executive Committee by Agathe Rost[^1], Executive Assistant 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_1_agathe_rost_assistante_de_direction_1_28994aba97.png)

## Step 1: Meeting agenda in preparation

Agathe Rost, Executive Assistant, decided to prepare the agenda for the next committee meeting in a week's time. The director of the organization, Bernard Macherel\*, sent her by email the list of topics to be discussed. Agathe goes to the workspace dedicated to the Executive Committee and adds a meeting. After entering the title, date, time, duration and location of the meeting, she focuses on the list of participants. The members of the Executive Committee workspace have been added automatically to save her precious time.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_2_etape_1_liste_des_participants_1_c9f6a790ca.png)

Agathe now wishes to manage the different access rights of the participants. For this meeting, Mathilde and Bernard have all the same rights as Agathe. The other participants will only be able to modify the agenda items in steps 1 and 3\. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_3_etape_1_fenetre_gestion_des_droits_dacces_1_ef9ce2fac2.png)

Next, Agathe wishes to add the items to the agenda. With a few clicks, she copies the list of topics previously listed by her director and pastes it into the input bar. The items are created automatically and now appear in the table of contents on the left side of the screen. Agathe can now schedule them as she pleases.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_4_ordre_du_jour_en_preparation_1_a8a936bb7b.png)

The outline of the meeting is ready. Agathe would like to inform participants to add their notes to the agenda items. To do so, she sends an email to participants directly from the platform by clicking on the **button with the envelope**.

The participants are listed as recipients. Agathe takes advantage of the predefined subject and message to save time and clicks directly on **Send by email**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_5_etape_1_fenetre_envoi_email_1_f43b0491ca.png)

## Step 2: Meeting agenda validated

On the eve of the meeting, the agenda has been completed by all participants and is normally no longer subject to change. After a brief rereading, Agathe can validate the agenda and proceed to step 2 by clicking on **Meeting agenda is ready** in the red banner at the bottom of the screen.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_6_lordre_du_jour_est_pret_1_bf5d544104.png)

Agathe finally has to add a last minute information in one of the agenda items. From the orange banner at the bottom of the screen, she **edits the meeting agenda**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_7_etape_2_editer_lordre_du_jour_1_fadc608e95.png)

## Step 3: Meeting minutes currently written

On D-Day, Agathe returns to the previously prepared meeting. The meeting is in step 2 - Meeting agenda validated. At the bottom left of the screen, she clicks on **Start Meeting**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_8_commencer_la_reunion_019e71f2e5.png)

Agathe begins by completing the information about the participants. She checks off the absent and excused persons. She also adds the reason for the apology in the field provided. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_9_etape_3_controle_des_presences_58eb3b17f3.png)

The meeting begins: Agathe is ready to write up the minutes of the discussions. As she writes it, she navigates easily from point to point using the table of contents and adds notes, decisions and tasks to the various points discussed. At the end of the meeting, Agathe clicks on the **End Meeting** button in the yellow banner at the bottom of the screen.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_10_clore_la_reunion_fe0d06e165.png)

## Step 4: Meeting minutes in review

A few hours after the meeting, Agathe would like to review the minutes. She returns to the Executive Committee workspace, resumes the meeting in Step 4 - Meeting minutes in review. To make corrections, she clicks **Edit Minutes** in the purple banner at the bottom of the screen. Once the changes have been made, she clicks **Finish**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_11_etape_4_editer_le_compte_rendu_6c73d6a8e7.png)

## Step 5: Meeting minutes locked

A few days after the meeting and after a final reading, Agathe can finally move on to the last step. In order to follow up from one meeting to the next, she decides to lock the minutes. The minutes can no longer be modified. 

To do this, she clicks the **Lock meeting minutes** button in the purple banner at the bottom of the screen and follows the procedure required for locking.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_12_verrouiller_le_compte_rendu_c71e61095f.png)

Finally, Agathe sends an email to participants to inform them that the minutes have been locked. They are invited to read it again in order to ensure a follow-up from one meeting to the next. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_13_etape_5_fenetre_envoi_email_775e9cddb1.png)

The 5 proposed steps frame the overall conduct of a meeting and allow users to situate themselves in the process. At each step, you have the possibility to inform the participants so that they can get involved in the preparation of the agenda and in the review of the minutes. WEDO allows you to improve the management of your meetings while reinforcing the collaborative aspect. 
[^1]: Fictional characters.

#### Would you like to facilitate the preparation and conduct of your meetings? 

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}

Agathe Rost, Executive Assistant, is responsible for preparing the next committee meeting. Through this article, find out how she works with WEDO.

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The preparation and follow-up of an Executive Committee

Fribourg SME WEDO is doing well and has decided to consolidate its place in the Swiss economy by changing its legal form. The former Llc is proud of its new name, WEDO Ltd, even though the founders have no intention of opening up the company's shares to external investors for now.

After swapping the initial domain name wedo.swiss for [wedo.com](http://wedo.com/) a few months ago, the company is now pursuing a strategy of consolidating its assets for serene and ambitious growth.

**A team with international ambitions**

Founded in 2015 by Fribourg-based David Dutch and Antoine Sudan, the company now has 14 employees based in Fribourg and Zurich, including four recruits in 2022 alone. Working in high value-added jobs such as Full Stack Developer (3 of whom trained at the Fribourg School of Engineering), Digital Marketing Specialist, Business Developer, or Customer Success Manager, these employees contribute to the wealth of a secure, high-performance software product. Recruitment accelerated in 2022, intending to build a team of 20 employees by 2024. Widely adopted in French-speaking Switzerland, WEDO has been gaining ground in German-speaking Switzerland since the hiring of Business Developers in 2020. Our ambition is to continue our expansion in German-speaking Switzerland and internationally.

WEDO Ltd operates mainly in Switzerland, covering various industries, including healthcare, the public sector, finance, and construction. Today, WEDO is used by some 500 organizations in 18 different sectors.

![Employees_en.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Employees_en_5676cb8f03.png)

The transformation of WEDO from a limited liability company to a public limited company is part of this growth strategy. By increasing its share capital, WEDO aims to reassure and establish the credibility of its business model. It's a business model that quickly proved to be a winner and which has more or less retained its initial structure since the beginning of the adventure: a system of annual subscriptions paid per user, giving access to the platform's full range of functions.

![Chronology_en.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Chronology_en_6c2afd656f.png)

**Next steps**

In addition to its capital increase and the long-awaited acquisition of wedo.com, the development teams have recently focused on extending the platform's functionality. While the platform defied all competition regarding meeting management, it will soon launch a new, more powerful version for project management, ready to challenge its American competitors.

Fribourg SME WEDO is doing well and has decided to consolidate its place in the Swiss economy by changing its legal form.

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WEDO Llc becomes WEDO Ltd


Our recent LinkedIn survey revealed that almost 40% of respondents associate the ineffectiveness of a meeting with the lack of decisions made, while 34% point the finger at the participants' lack of preparation.

Indeed, meetings dictate our weeks and petrify our calendars. However, they remain a central element in collaboration and mark the echelons of project management.

In this article, we address these issues and suggest a few best practices that will have the advantage of optimizing your meetings.



## Problem n°1: Promoting decision-making at meetings

### 🎯 Systematically setting objectives

The meeting leader must be clear about the objectives of the meeting. Depending on the objectives and their deadlines, it is important to systematically [define in advance the decisions to be taken](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/6877940-voting-decision-preparing-the-decision-on-a-vote) and mention them in the agenda. 

### 🗣️  Assign decision-making authority 

It is advisable to define a meeting moderator or to [assign responsibility for each topic to a specific person](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/5747620-define-the-presenter-of-a-topic). In this way, this person ensures that the matter reaches a decision before moving on to the next item. 

### 🗳️  Putting to the vote 

Decision-making can be facilitated by [voting](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/6877940-voting-decision-preparing-the-decision-on-a-vote). When a decision is taken within a group, voting can  reach a collegial decision. Voting puts an end to endless discussion and allows the group to move on to the next issue.  

### ✅   Formalizing decision-making 

It's important to record decisions clearly in the minutes. The [record of any decision must be easily accessible](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/2614315-view-all-decisions-made-in-meetings) to avoid wasting time searching for information. 


##  Problem n°2: Encourage participants to prepare themselves

### 👀  Reading discussion material in advance

[Send information and documents](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/5959542-share-a-meeting) dealing with the various topics in advance so that participants can prepare themselves. Reading the issues in advance ensures that they are dealt with more quickly, thus reducing the length of the meeting.   

### 🗓️  Initiate debate before the meeting

By mentioning any [questions or decisions](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/5701398-types-of-blocks) to be made on the agenda, participants can prepare themselves for the debate.  

### 👤 Empowering participants

The meeting initiator does not have to run the entire session. On the contrary, by [appointing a member of staff as presenter](https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/5747620-define-the-presenter-of-a-topic) for a topic in which he or she is involved, he or she will by nature be better prepared and more responsible for managing the project. In addition, the change of presenter will have the advantage of giving the meeting a rhythm.

### ❎  Consistency in the participation of certain employees

A lack of preparation or investment on the part of an employee can sometimes mean that his or her presence is perhaps not relevant.

![Préparation d'un ordre du jour](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/ca_preparer_odj_d6adef1deb.png)


Collaborative upstream work can radically improve meeting productivity and participant involvement. 

WEDO is a cloud-based solution that enables all team and company members to manage their meeting agendas. Agenda items and content are automatically transferred from one meeting to the next, ensuring the traceability of projects, tasks and decisions. 

The platform is compatible with the management of all types of meetings, from board meetings to HR meetings, as well as regular or exceptional project management sessions.


::button-primary[Request a free demo]{link="/demo"}


Our recent LinkedIn survey revealed that almost 40% of respondents associate the inefficiency of a meeting with the lack of decisions made, while 34% point the finger at the lack of preparation on the part of participants.

This article addresses these issues and suggests a few best practices to optimize your meetings.

People havin a discussion during a meeting

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What are the main disruptive elements in our meetings?

## What are the organizational challenges in the education sector?

For educational organizations, communication and collaboration are central and essential issues. The management of these structures must be able to actively exchange with all departments to ensure the smooth running of their institution. Management's responsibility is also to foster optimal collaboration between administrative and pedagogical teams.

In terms of collaboration, here are some challenges in the education field:

 🗓️ Managing, monitoring and ensuring the efficiency of various meetings: board of directors, deans' meetings, pedagogical meetings, bilateral meetings, team meetings, etc.

✅ Complete and review tasks of the school management and professionals, as well as of the individual departments, competence centers and partner institutions

 📋 Manage recurring procedures

---

## What hinders organizations from working together efficiently?

Employees often have to reach their objectives with limited and inefficient resources. Email remains the most common used communication channel, and it is to be criticized that few truly collaborative tools are available in everyday education.  
Another finding is that meetings are often poorly prepared, often too frequent, and sometimes interminable… in short, unproductive. However, meetings are crucial for the exchange of information. In the sector, these meetings bring together multiple actors: members of the management, administrative staff, deans, professors or teachers, as well as external stakeholders. The challenge for the management is to efficiently manage these multiple meetings while involving each participant before, during and after the meetings.  
So how do you overcome these organizational and collaborative difficulties while encouraging the digitalization of processes?

## Our solutions to improve collaboration within schools and faculties

WEDO is a collaboration tool that is perfectly suited for the internal organization of schools and faculties. Our solution is already helping many institutions to overcome their organizational challenges and improve internal communication.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2022_08_wedo_education_1_7b7a9d1792.svg)

Find out how the **WEDO platform** supports schools and faculty in their daily collaboration.

### 1\. Create a collaborative structure tailored to the education sector

Each department or service of the institution can manage its various projects organized in "workspaces". These spaces allow the institution's employees to share meetings, tasks and files. TheWEDO solution brings together all these features on a single platform. 💡Note that collaboration with external specialists is also very simple and possible without additional costs.

### 2\. Manage all meetings in one tool

From workspaces, users can manage all their meetings with WEDO: from the Board of Directors to the Deans, including pedagogical meetings and bilateral discussions. With the "Meeting" module, agendas can be prepared together as a team, minutes can be taken in real time, and assigned tasks can be tracked from one meeting to the next.

### 3\. Prepare agendas collectively

Unproductive meetings are usually the result of poor preparation. The feature that changes the daily life of management and administration is, without a doubt, the collective preparation of meetings. With WEDO, each employee can complete the agenda to prepare their contributions in advance. It is also possible to share and add documents, for all the information that will be consulted in advance or presented during the meeting (PDF, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

### 4\. Highlight decisions made during meetings

Meetings are often closed without having documented clearly made decisions or knowing the pending issues and their deadlines. With WEDO, it is very easy to document the decisions and delegate the associated tasks in a reliable way. The meeting minutes are always clearly organized so that the relevant information can be found immediately.

### 5\. Delegate tasks in meetings

It is possible to create tasks and delegate them immediately during the meeting. Thus, the employees involved will be operational as soon as the meeting is over. From one meeting to the next, WEDO keeps track of the tasks completed so that you can always keep an eye on the deadlines set.

### 6\. Transparent and simple communication on running tasks

The task manager integrated into the WEDO platform simplifies collaboration and communication. It is possible to comment on a task, to share information and exchange with the people involved in its completion. A notification system allows you to stay informed in case of changes or important information.

### 7\. Find information quickly

With the powerful search function integrated in WEDO, you can access the required information with just a few clicks. The search runs across the platform using keywords. In this way, users can find meeting minutes, important decisions, tasks and files that contain the keyword they are looking for.

## WEDO is the ideal tool for Schools and Faculties

WEDO is a tool that brings teams together by providing multiple opportunities to communicate and collaborate efficiently. By integrating our solution in many schools and faculties, we understand the educational sector's organizational challenges. Enhance collaboration within your institution with our features:

🗓️ Agenda preparation, real-time minute taking and tracking of delegated meeting tasks.

✅ Collaborative management of tasks through workspaces. 

▶️ Automation of workflows to improve the quality of internal processes.

![WEDO-education-2_EN.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/WEDO_education_2_EN_d4dae7e484.png)

These customers have chosen WEDO to collaborate efficiently in their schools:

::button-secondary[Learn more about their testimonials]{link="/industries/education"}

Holding and tracking meetings, coordinating between departments, exchanging information and managing administration are daily challenges for the education sector. Learn how WEDO helps schools and academic institutions improve collaboration by optimizing their meeting and task management.

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Meeting minutes

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