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The Art & Science of Meeting Design: Joyedele Consulting Shares Expertise with St. Louis OD Network


Split-screen image of a person speaking on a video call next to a slide titled "The Meeting Canoe" with a diagram and book cover.

In today's fast-paced organizational environment, the ability to design and facilitate effective meetings isn't just nice to have – it's essential for driving meaningful change. Joyedele Consulting demonstrated its commitment to evidence-based methodologies when founder Judy Oyedele led a workshop for the St. Louis Organization Development Network on "Designing Effective Meetings and Engagements with the Meeting Canoe."


The session brought together facilitators, organizational development practitioners, and meeting designers to explore the Meeting Canoe framework, developed by Dick and Emily Axelrod. This systematic approach to meeting design aligns perfectly with Joyedele Consulting's dedication to creating intentional, engaging spaces for collaboration and transformation.


"Groups are the mechanism of transformation in our society," Judy shared during the session. "When people decide to come together and work as a team toward something purposeful, that's how transformational change happens at an accelerated rate."


Key insights from the workshop included:

  • The four essential reasons to meet: to decide, learn, bond, and solve problems

  • Critical design considerations around accessibility and inclusion

  • How to navigate the most challenging aspects of meetings: beginnings and endings

  • Ways to adapt the framework for various contexts, from quick huddles to multi-day retreats


The session particularly resonated when exploring the "getting in and getting out" of the metaphorical canoe – those crucial moments at the start and end of meetings that often determine their success. Participants gained practical strategies for creating strong openings that build psychological safety and crafting intentional closings that cement decisions and next steps.


At Joyedele Consulting, we believe that thoughtful meeting design is central to organizational effectiveness. Whether we're facilitating board retreats, strategic planning sessions, or team development workshops, we draw on research-backed methodologies like the Meeting Canoe to create experiences that transform how people work together.


Ready to elevate your team's meetings and retreats? Download our free Retreat Planning Checklist to start designing more effective engagements today.

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