How to lead a meeting

You need to understand the meeting's purpose and objectives to properly plan for it. This helps you understand who should attend the meeting and the specific topics that should be covered during the meeting.

• Craft an agenda for the meeting

Once you know the meeting's purpose and objectives, you can then craft an agenda for the meeting. This is a document that should outline the topics that will be covered, discussed, or voted on, and the approximate amount of time that should be dedicated to each one.

• Ensure the discussion stays on topic

One of your primary functions is to make sure that the meeting stays on track. Keep all attendees focused on the agenda items and give them reminders on any time allotments.