Tips for Providing Behind-the-Scenes Support
Consider these ideas for how your organization or group can provide the supports to people initiating action between meetings.
Distribute actionable meeting minutes:
add a column to your meeting minutes (see meeting minute template) that clearly lists out everyone's action items with enough detail so they know exactly what to do. Notice how the example action item below includes the email address of the person who needs to be contacted.
- John: Email principal of Creekside Elementary (Susan Johnson - johnsonae@creekside.edu) to ask about opportunity to gather input from parents during upcoming Kindergarten Roundup event.
- Due date: February 12
Send action reminders:
follow up with anyone initiating actions within 1-2 weeks after the last meeting to remind them of their actions and provide needed trouble-shooting support. This follow-up can happen through email or phone calls.
Assign someone the support role every month
. Ensure it's someone's role to provide this behind the scenes support each month. One person can permanently take on this follow-up role (e.g., Backbone Staff), or you can create a rotating schedule where team members take turns providing this follow up between meetings.