Simple Archives - Meeting Toolchest

Orb Icon representing image of partial simple Kanbab board

Simple Kanban

At its core, Kanban is a visual management method that aims to optimize workflow and increase efficiency. Basically it is a simple board with columns, … Read more

Facilitator Cards – an easy way to start facilitation

Facilitation cards are simple, fun way to step into facilitation and to bring more activity and participation into your meetings – – – – – … Read more

Glass orb icon reflecting the self-coaching model

Peer Coaching and Self-Coaching

The self-coaching approach combines two powerful coaching models into a comprehensive process for self-development. – – – – – – – – – – – … Read more

Meeting tools and sticky notes are not an alternative to dialogue

Contrary to what some may believe, meeting tools and sticky notes are not a replacement for dialogue. The purpose of using these tools is not … Read more

Camp fire - metaphor for team and meeting ground rules

Rules for Effective Teamwork

Work with your team to develop the basis for more effective relationships and interactions – – – – – – – – – – – … Read more

Threshold of Pride

Setting practical worthwhile goals by accessing our feelings about them – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – … Read more

Google Jamboard

Getting started on Virtual Whiteboards Google Jamboard is probably the simplest and most intuitive of all the mainline participative whiteboards. What it lacks in features … Read more

countdown meeting timer to energise efficient creative meetings

Using Meeting Timers for Efficient, High Energy and Creative Meetings

We spend more of our working time in meetings than virtually anywhere else. And the more senior we are, the more we spend our time … Read more

Countdown timer for Evernote for timeblocking and for efficient followup

Countdown Timers in Evernote

Many people use Evernote for capturing their thoughts and ideas, drafting copy, and documenting their work and research or studies. It provides a great resource … Read more

Illustration of Countdown timer for use on Outlook emails and in meeting invitations

Countdown Timers in Outlook Emails and Meeting Invites

One of the easiest places to add a countdown timer is in Outlook. You can add countdown timers to emails, to meeting invites and to … Read more

Countdown timer for Trello and for use in agile scrum and standup meetings

Agile Timers: Countdown Timers for Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Review and Retrospective Meetings (Ceremonies)

One of the great things that Agile has given us is a pattern of frequent, regular, short, focused timebound meetings, or ceremonies. Time is important, … Read more

Illustration of Countdown timer for Microsoft whiteboard and Google Jamboard

Countdown Timers on Microsoft Whiteboard and Google Jamboard

Some virtual whiteboards include countdown timers. However, in two well known examples the countdown timer is either hidden entirely, or is tucked out of the … Read more

Illustration of Countdown timer for virtual webcams in zoom or teams meetings using OBS or mmhmm

Countdown Timers in Virtual Webcams

The key benefit of adding a countdown timer to your virtual webcam through OBS or mmhmm is that it enables you to help people better … Read more

Illustration of Countdown timer for Breakout sessions in Zoom and Teams virtual meetings

Countdown Timers in Meeting Breakouts (using dummy participants)

There are so many great things that meeting software developers have yet to realise that we need. Clocks and countdown timers is an obvious one. … Read more

Illustration of Countdown timer for use on desktop within a window

Countdown Timers on the Desktop

The Toolchest countdown timers we have created are designed to embed easily into the software you may be using for your work: PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Evernote, … Read more

Example of countdown timers in use in a Teams or Zoom meeting

Countdown Timers in Teams or Zoom Meetings

One reason meetings struggle to keep to time is because people lose awareness of the time. This is particularly evident when they are speaking. As … Read more

Glass orb illustrating two PowerPoint windows

Working in Two PowerPoint Windows

Guidance on using two PowerPoint Windows to enable facilitation by using PowerPoint more interactively to capture people’s ideas and observations. – – – – – … Read more

Image of person doing stretching exercise in glass orb

WFH Exercises

Simply click the wheel, then click on the exercise identified, and follow the instructions. Repeat frequently. Full guidance below. Simple BUPA recommended exercises to help … Read more

Facilitation Supercards are the brainchild of Lisette Sutherland who curates the extremely useful collaborationsuperpowers.com site. They are easy to use flashcards to convey simple messages … Read more

Virtual Flip Charts

Virtual Flip Charts are a free, simple and easy way of including a flip chart electronically in your webcam. They help engage participation and form … Read more

Using Virtual Flipcharts in Zoom, Teams, …

Guidance on using Virtual Flipcharts with your preferred virtual meeting software. Virtual Flipcharts are a free, simple and easy way of including a flipchart electronically … Read more

Image of Virtual Flipchart from the Virtual Flipcharts Gallery

Virtual Flipchart Tools

Each of the Virtual Flipchart templates below is connected with a Powerpoint file which will download if you click the image. The Powerpoint file should … Read more

Virtual Flipcharts using mmhmm

Guidance on installing Virtual Flipcharts through mmhmm and similar commercial software. Virtual Flipcharts are a free, simple and easy way of including a flipchart electronically … Read more

Virtual Flipcharts using OBS

Guidance on installing Virtual Flipcharts through the open source software OBS. Virtual Flipcharts are a free, simple and easy way of including a flipchart electronically … Read more