How to Write Desired Outcomes for an Agenda A facilitative leader

How to Write Desired Outcomes for an Agenda

A facilitative leader spends as much time preparing for a meeting as they spend in the meeting itself.

The centerpiece of the meeting-planning process is the agenda. An agenda is a road map outlining

meeting topics, how they will be addressed, by whom, and when. (Interaction Associates, Inc.)

A Desired Outcome is what your meeting aims to achieve, or the expected results. A desired outcome

answers the question: “What will we walk out of the meeting with?”. They are brief, written statements

that are specific and measureable. A desired outcome is written from the perspective of the participant

and is a noun, not a verb. (Interaction Associates, Inc.)

Creating desired outcomes for your meeting helps to focus the group and set expectations before the

meeting starts. It also helps to break down the steps in a decision making process in order to obtain

consensus on each specific outcome.

There are two types of Outcomes:

1. Products:

 Lists

 Plans

 Decisions

 Agreements

2. Knowledge

 Awareness of... so that...

 Understanding of... so that...

*Please note that completing the "so that" statement directs the participants on how the knowledge

will be used and tells them why this knowledge is important

Examples:

By the end of this meeting we want to have:

 A list of challenges.

 A decision and action plan on how to decrease turnover by 2%.

 An understanding of the revised work schedule so that we ensure full coverage on all shifts this

week.

 Agreement on next steps.