Part 1. The role of the chairperson.

Task 1. What do you think the functions of the chairperson are during a meeting? What are the advantages and disadvantages of not having a chairperson in a meeting?

Step 1. Answer these questions in written form, emphasising your choice.

Step 2. Have a short meeting to discuss the main duties and responsibilities of a chairperson. You are all equally responsible for making sure that:

1) everyone has a chance to put their views;

2) no individual dominates;

3) everyone keeps to the point;

4) notes are taken.

Step 3. Compare your ideas about duties and responsibilities of a chairperson with the ideas of Hilary Rhodes, a management consultant who specializes in meeting skills that are presented in the text below.

Read the three parts of the text paying attention to the words in italics. Then answer the questions given below.

A. BEFORE THE MEETING.

A good chairperson has to be a good organizer. What they do before the meeting is as important as the meeting itself. They should make sure the agenda (the list of things to be discussed) is complete by asking those involved what should be on it and then circulating (distributing) it to everyone concerned. They should check thevenue making sure the room will be free, without interruptions until the end of the meeting.

B. DURING THE MEETING.

The chairperson should be a good timekeeper. They should start the meeting on time without waiting for latecomers. They should appoint a minute-taker to takethe minutes, making that opinions and action points (where participants agree to do something) are noted.

They should make sure each point on the agenda is 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 or resolved (decided).

The chair should make sure that each participant has the chance to make theirpoint, 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, where people get off the point.

Finally, they should ensure the meeting finishes on time or early.

Unit 11

C. FOLLOW-UP.

After some meetings it is necessary for the minutes to be circulated, especially if there are some 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 anymatters 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.

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the general idea of the text given?

2. What do you think is the most important information for a would-be chairperson?

3. What information do you think is the least important, if any?

4. What qualities does a good chairperson need?