Final answer:
Deborah can have an effective meeting by starting on time, providing recaps for latecomers, and going over meeting ground rules, all of which facilitate a structured and inclusive environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ensure an effective and efficient committee meeting, Deborah should consider implementing several strategies. Firstly, while it's ideal to start meetings on time, waiting for all participants to arrive before beginning could delay proceedings; hence, it may not always be practical. Instead, she can start the meeting as scheduled and give a quick recap to any latecomers to keep everyone informed. Additionally, going over the ground rules at the beginning of the meeting is essential as it sets the expectations and procedures for the interaction, contributing to a smoother and more structured session.
Incorporating these steps allows Deborah to respect the time of those who arrive promptly, maintain informational continuity for late arrivals, and establish a framework for the meeting's conduct. It's similar to the strategies used in diverse decision-making meetings around the world, where managing a large group requires clarity and structure to ensure all voices are heard and the final decisions consider the group's broader preferences.