Planning Strategic Meetings That Drive Results: The POAD Framework
Whether you're organizing a multi-day workshop or a focused one-hour session, the success of any strategic meeting hinges on thoughtful planning. Drawing from years of consulting experience, I've found that the most effective meetings share a common thread: they're built on a solid framework that connects every element of the gathering.
Enter the POAD framework—a simple yet powerful methodology that ensures your meetings deliver real outcomes.
What is POAD?
POAD stands for Purpose, Objectives, Activities, and Deliverables. This framework creates alignment from the start and enables rapid progress by ensuring all aspects of your meeting work together seamlessly.
Breaking Down the Framework
Purpose: Always begin by defining why you're meeting. This foundation informs everything else. What's the driving reason for bringing people together?
Objectives: From your purpose, articulate what you're looking to accomplish. These objectives should connect directly to your stated purpose and provide clear targets for success.
Activities: Identify the specific exercises and discussions needed to realize your objectives. These activities become your roadmap and help you measure whether you've achieved success.
Deliverables: Consider what materials and resources are necessary. Do you need a presentation deck? Should participants complete pre-work? Who will capture notes? These deliverables ensure you can accomplish your objectives within your allocated time.
Why POAD Works
This framework helps you draft the backbone of any meeting structure quickly. When a stakeholder approaches you about planning a workshop, you can rapidly create a POAD outline and circulate it for alignment. This accelerates the planning process and ensures everyone understands what success looks like before the meeting even begins.
By connecting purpose to objectives, objectives to activities, and activities to deliverables, you create a cohesive meeting experience that drives meaningful outcomes—whether you're working remotely or in person.
