a good chairperson.
A good chairperson should be a good timekeeper. They should start the meeting on time, without waiting for latecomers.
They should appoint a minute-takerto take the minutes, making sure that opinions and action points (where participants agree to do something) are noted.
They should make sure each point on the agendais allocated the time it deserves and should keep to the timetable. When the time allocated to one point is up, the chair should make sure that discussion moves on to the next point, even if the issue has not been completely covered (decided).
The chair should make sure that each participant has the chance to make their point, and should deal tactfully with disagreements, making sure that each side feels their point of view has been noted. They should also try to avoid digressions, when people get off the point.
Finally, they should ensure the meeting finishes on time, or early.
After some meetings, it's necessary for the minutes to be circulated, especially if there are action points that particular people are responsible for.
At the next meeting, the chair should ask for the minutes to be read out and see if all agree that it is an accurate record of what happened, and see if there are any matters arising (any points from the last meeting that need to be discussed). And they should check what progress has been made on the action points from the previous meeting.
Ex. 10. Hilary Rhodes is talking about the importance of keeping calm in meetings:
In a meeting, you discuss things. In the discussion, some people may agree with you. Others may disagree. They may have differences of opinion with you, but the important thing is to keep calm and remain polite. It's OK to disagree, but it's not OK to be impolite or rude or to lose your temper.
An argument is when people disagree about something, perhaps becoming angry. Your argument is also the setof ideas that you use to prove your point: to show that what you are saying is true.
Now get acquainted with different phrases used at the meetings:
Agreeing
Strong agreement:
a. You're perfectly right.
b. I couldnt agree more.
Mild agreement:
a. You may be right there.
b. That's true, I suppose.
c. I suppose so.
Disagreeing
Strong disagreement: Mild disagreement:
a. I'm sorry, but that's out of the question. a. I don't really agree.
b. I think you're wrong. b. I think you're mistaken..
c. That's absurd. c. I'm afraid I can't agree with you there.
d. That's ridiculous.
