How to Conduct Effective Discussions

[Gustavo-SF]

Having productive discussions can be a crucial part of team success. Below are some key steps to help guide and structure these discussions effectively.

Step 1: Start the Discussion

To begin with, it's important to set a clear foundation for the discussion. Here's how:

• Set a deadline: Establish a clear timeline for the discussion. This helps to manage expectations and ensures everyone is on the same page regarding when feedback or responses should be provided. Consider always two weeks for the Deadline so we can provide enough time for anyone to participate.

• Tag the relevant AORs: Make sure to involve all the involved AORs. Tagging the relevant teams ensures that everyone who needs to be part of the discussion is included.

• Provide context: Start the discussion with a clear explanation about what the topic is and why it's important. This helps to ensure everyone understands the purpose and goal of the discussion.

• Guiding questions: Kickstart the conversation by asking some guiding questions. This helps to stimulate thought and can aid in focusing the discussion on the key points.

Step 2: Send Reminders and Summarize Replies

Communication should be ongoing throughout the discussion. Consider these two actions:

• Send reminders: As the deadline approaches, send some reminders to the team. This ensures that everyone is aware of the deadline and has ample opportunity to contribute.

• Summarize replies: Periodically, take time to summarize the replies that have been received so far. This can help clarify the main points being raised and help people who join the discussion late to catch up.

Step 3: Conclude the Discussion

After all the discussions, it's time to bring everything together:

• Summarize the discussion: Create a summary of the entire discussion, encapsulating all the key points, ideas, and concerns that were raised.

• Provide next steps: Outline the follow-up actions, who is responsible for them, and when they should be completed.

Bonus: Voting Procedure

If there are many ideas and you're having trouble deciding on the next steps, consider implementing a voting procedure. This allows team members to prioritize the ideas and provide a clear path for what should be worked on next.

Happy discussing!

[VascoMano]

I. Increase the number of active partners
By "active," I mean that the partner actively collaborates on at least one activity each year.
Immediate actions:

• Keep reaching out to potential partners;
• Contact the businesses that have previously engaged, as well as former partners;
• Identify new potential partners through networking events and industry conferences.

II. Increase the engagement of the partners

• Masterclasses, webinars, and events for our students, volunteers, and employees of the partners;
• Collaboration on Case Studies and actively present them, on behalf of the partners, in conferences of the industry. The objective is that they can use this as a reference to sell their work;
• Remove the inactive partners from the website;
• Include the active partners on the website;
• Make LinkedIn posts referencing the name of the partner and our person of contact;
• Participate in the associations of the sector, cooperating in their work groups.

III. Actively participate in the broader community

• On current AI-related issues, we should have official opinions and present them through the appropriate channels. If possible, we should mention the best practices that our partners have used.

IV. A monthly column in a newspaper
Though it might be a risky or even incorrect approach, I'll nonetheless mention it for discussion's sake:

• Create a monthly column in a newspaper or magazine.

[Gustavo-SF]

Hey @VascoMano, it must have been a mistake, but can you move this answer to the Objectives topic? Thanks!