Give Everyone in the Meeting a Job to Do

Every meeting organizer wants people to attend, pay attention, and participate. Assigning attendees a specific role is a good way to accomplish all of this. Before your next meeting, consider appointing: • A facilitator to guide the group through the phases of discussion, problem-solving, and decision-making. She also makes sure one opinion doesn’t dominate — a good role for someone who wants more leadership experience. • A scribe to capture any key points, ideas, and decisions established in the meeting. This is a great assignment for someone who is shy but wants to participate. • A contributor to offer ideas and help keep the discussion on track. Tell the person you’re counting on him to ensure that all the key issues are addressed. • An expert to share knowledge on particular issues as requested. He or she can attend just part of the meeting.