Service Design
In 2006, Sean bought a degree of order to these workshops by sequencing a four step service design process model onto a 'wallchart' - essentially a big laminated sheet of paper, and making colour coded 'gridcards'.
During this time he worked on a wide range of projects including NHS Gateshead on the re-designing of the colorectal cancer units services, the design of the "Newcastle Airport of the future" and the University of the Arts on the redesign of the student experience.
Focus and Productivity
Bringing structure and order to these workshops using this simple system made the workshops more focussed, helped improve the productivity of the sessions and participants often remarked how enjoyable they had found the sessions.
In 2007 Sean Blair took six months out to research, develop, design and test a better system for all kinds of work based meetings, believing that many organisations would benefit from having a better way of working together.
Inside ProMeet are some powerful ideas and some clear thinking from many clever people.
Sean combined this wisdom with his experience of facilitating many different kinds of projects and developed the 5 principles and 4 phases of excellent meetings.
You can read about them in the free ProMeet Guide. The first use of ProMeet took place at a key stakeholder meeting of 'User Centred Drug Rehabilitation Service' project at the RSA in 2008.
Since then the ProMeet system has been used in just about every kind of meeting imaginable.
Just some of the benefits
The unique ProMeet 'Wallchart' and 'Gridcard' system ensures every opinion is heard quickly and efficiently, aligning attention of participants, and capturing a record of the work being undertaken.
ProMeet is a container within which any kind of working-together activity can take place. It offers a framework to keep tasks on track, allow everyone to participate and clarify the actions needed as a result of working together.
The final 'learning phase' of ProMeetings, at best, can deepen individual and collective learning, yielding real development and growth.
Used as a leadership philosophy, it supports leaders to nurture a participative leadership style, that done well, harnesses diversity, builds community, and creates shared responsibility for action.
Hear what ProMeet clients say.
Where next?
As a framework, ProMeet can easily adapt to meet the needs of different cultures and include practices organisations have already adopted. For instance ProMeet has is used in conference calls, and video conferencing, and been adapted and customised by organisations who've adopted it.
For practitioners working in the organisational development, leadership development or organisational change sectors, Sean would love to collaborate and further develop and customise ProMeet. Get in touch if you'd like to collaborate.
Thanks for taking the time to read this story.