Final answer:
Yes, the leader should periodically summarize the group's work during a meeting to align understanding, clarify objectives, and facilitate progress. This practice contributes to productive discussions and ensures that the final outcomes reflect the group's collaborative efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a meeting, it is indeed beneficial for the leader to periodically summarize the group's work. This practice serves several purposes. First, it ensures that all participants are on the same page and clearly understand the progress that has been made. It can also identify any discrepancies or misunderstandings early on. Summarizing provides a chance to clarify objectives, gauge the group's consensus, and set the stage for further discussion or decision-making.
For example, after a group lists possible topics and exchanges comments, ideas, and questions, the leader can summarize the key points to make sure that everyone has a shared understanding of the topics discussed. Additionally, during brainstorming sessions, such as generating examples on a blackboard or whiteboard, summarizing can help to consolidate thoughts and encourage a more focused and spirited discussion.
Moreover, in situations involving a large number of participants, where meetings tend to move slowly, summarizing periodically can help maintain momentum. It can also ensure that the final outcomes more closely reflect the group's preferences, as summaries can highlight the diverse voices and opinions present. Lastly, a good summary towards the meeting's conclusion ties up the main points and reveals whether the discussion has been productive or if further revision is needed.