Page 43 Efficient Meetings

• Keep the discussion on track. A good meeting leader draws out the best ideas the group has to offer and resolves differences of opinion while maintaining progress toward achieving the meeting's purpose and staying on schedule. 
• Follow agreed-upon rules. The larger the meeting, the more formal you need to be to maintain order.
• Encourage participation. On occasion, some participants will be too quiet and others too talkative. The quiet participants may be shy, they may be expressing disagreement or resistance, or they may be working on unrelated tasks. Draw them out by asking for their input on issues that pertain to them.
• Participate actively. If you are a meeting participant, look for opportunities to contribute to both the subject of the meeting and the smooth interaction of the group. Speak up if you have something useful to say. 
• Close effectively. At the conclusion of the meeting, verify that the objectives have been met or arrange follow-up work, if needed.