Question

Rachel chairs a new meeting of her club and is concerned that the meeting may not be productive because the members tend to go off on tangents. How can Rachel help keep the meeting on track?

Answer 1

To help keep the meeting on track, Rachel can implement strategies such as setting a clear agenda, encouraging active participation, using timekeeping tools, redirecting off-topic discussions, and following up after the meeting.

Step-by-step explanation:

To help keep the meeting on track, Rachel can implement the following strategies:

1. Set a clear agenda: Rachel should create a detailed agenda that outlines the topics to be discussed and the time allocated for each. This will help the members stay focused and prevent them from going off on tangents.
2. Encourage active participation: Rachel can facilitate the meeting in a way that encourages everyone to actively participate. By soliciting input and encouraging discussion, Rachel can keep the conversation centered around the agenda and prevent off-topic discussions.
3. Use timekeeping tools: Rachel can utilize timekeeping tools like a timer or a stopwatch to ensure that discussions stay within the allocated time. This will help prevent lengthy tangents that derail the meeting.
4. Redirect off-topic discussions: If a member starts going off on a tangent, Rachel can politely interrupt and redirect the conversation back to the agenda. She can remind the member of the current topic and encourage them to hold their thoughts for later discussion if it's unrelated to the current agenda item.
5. Follow up after the meeting: Rachel can send a summary of the meeting to all members, highlighting the key decisions made and action points. This will help keep everyone accountable and ensure that discussions stay focused in future meetings.