Ways of Working

Being in Shake It Up Meetings

Meetings should be enjoyable, human, and get things done. This means a balance between things being really disorganised, but also avoiding over structuring with lots of set rules - such as on how to make decisions. The idea is everyone feels able to participate. 

In particular:

1. All meetings start with a check in: everyone goes around in turn to say how their day is going, how they are doing. So we start with remembering we are all human.

2. Meetings should start on time and finish on time - so we don’t waste each other’s time - and so people who have other responsibilities don't have to leave if meetings go on and on, and are thus unable to contribute their views. 

3. There is an agenda and a facilitator (like a chair) who goes through the agenda, makes sure everyone has time to speak, and crucially guides each discussion to an agreement or conclusion.

4. Facilitators are SIU members, but not candidates or part of the core team. They are ‘neutral’ in the discussion but will focus on the agenda and keeping to time. If they redirect or ask you to wrap up, it's not personal and plea word is final,

5. “Action points” are written down of any decisions for people to do things - the list of action points is shared with people afterwards.

6. If you want to speak, always put your hand up first - don’t interrupt or talk across people - this is how we show respect for each other. 

7. If a decision cannot be made easily, then the facilitator will suggest that 2-3 people take an action point to continue the discussion out of the meeting and hopefully come to a joint proposal to bring to the next meeting. 

8. If a decision is made and people start talking about technical things which are only relevant to them - then they will be asked to “take it out of the meeting” so we can get on with the rest of the agenda.

9. We make decisions in a spirit of give and take - we can all agree that something is “good enough to try” - we don't all have to agree it is a great idea. We do not vote but work to find a solution together. In the last analysis difficult decisions can be given to the core group to decide - or in a special meet up to build understanding and a way forward. 

10. Anyone who is repeatedly aggressive or disruptive will be asked to change their behaviour by the coordinator of the group/team - and will be asked to leave by them if the ways they act do not change.