GOING TO A MEETING SERIES (NARRATED BY JOHN CLEESE)-

Give anyone who attends meetings the skills they need to contribute more effectively and deal with even the most awkward colleagues.

This two-part Going to a Meeting Series is based on a group of middle managers in a large hospital.

Part 1: Messing Up a Meeting focuses on Jeremy preparing to go to a regular meeting with his colleagues. Unfortunately 'preparing' doesn't describe what we see him doing. 'Grabbing a few papers and turning up late' would be more accurate. The narrator, John Cleese, tries to warn him that this isn't good enough, but he is in too much of a hurry to listen. The meeting, inevitably, is a disaster for him. On his return, Cleese explains what he ought to have done and he gets another chance. The results of doing his homework properly produce an entirely different outcome.

Messing Up a Meeting shows how to avoid common mistakes, how to prepare, how to get points across and win arguments. And how to not look like a fool in front of the boss!

Part 2: Meeting Menaces contains five short sequences, introduced by John Cleese. These show how to cope with colleagues whose behavior stops meetings from getting results. Jeremy fails to handle the destructive behavior of each of the menaces and the meeting they are all attending becomes a farce.

The waffler is guilty of going on and on, wasting time and contributing nothing to the meeting. The turf warrior is only interested in defending the interests and reputation of her department. The assassin has no ideas of his own, so prefers to shoot down others, while the dominator would rather steamroller over other opinions. Finally, the interrupter jumps in when others are speaking just because he thinks what he has to say is more important than anyone else.

This series is suitable for anybody who attends meetings.

"A good investment for refreshing the managers of today and training those of the future." ...Jan Golding, Training Magazine

A Video Arts production 2002, featuring John Cleese and Andy Taylor.