If you are asked to chair a meeting, remember the following golden rules for meeting management.

Assign a note-taker or arrange to have the meeting audio-taped. You may need to refer back to an issue that was discussed during the meeting at a later date. 【小题1】

【小题2】 So many times we think we are going to say and, in the process, block out valid points that other group members may be contributing. Additionally, we often hear only what we want to hear, rather than really listening to other people. Meetings that are characterized by effective listening are successful meetings.

Give everyone an opportunity to be heard. 【小题3】 As the leader of the meeting, you need to keep an open mind and make sure everyone feels welcome to contribute and express ideas without criticism.

【小题4】 Many times important issues can get sidetracked in a meeting, especially when everyone has a different opinion about the topic. If you anticipate a conflict prior to the meeting, discuss the issue with participants in advance. If an unanticipated (未预料到的) conflict develops once the meeting is in progress, ask participants involved in the conflict to meet with you after the meeting. Doing so will minimize the chances of wasting participants’ valuable time.

End on time. If you said the meeting would last no longer than one hour, make sure the meeting last for an hour.【小题5】 Running late with a meeting makes members late for other appointments, increases the chances that members will mentally leave the meeting, and reduces your credibility (可靠性) as an effective meeting manager.