Fifteen Ways to Master a Meeting

Here are some tips you can use to master a meeting .

(Click on each tip to read more information.)

If it is your meeting, lead it!
- Learn the role of a chair and fulfill that role to the best of your ability.
If it is your meeting, have an agenda and let people know why they are attending the meeting.
- Send the agenda around ahead of time, with a clear purpose of why the meeting has been called.
Start and end on time.
- This is your responsibility as chair.
- Figure out how much time you have and how much time each agenda item should take.
- Stick to this timeframe.
- If people don't show up on time, start the meeting anyway. This sends the message that your meetings will start on time.
- End on time, too.
- Respecting other people's time in this way builds your credibility as a meeting chair.
If it is someone else's meeting, take responsibility and participate.
- Come prepared as we've discussed.
- Read your agenda.
- Write out your notes or get your background information together.
Demonstrate high energy and involvement.
- A high energy level is contagious and a valued quality in a team player.
- Try not to get distracted.
- Listen to what others around the table are saying and participate when appropriate.
- Say what you want to say and no more.