What Is the Chairman’s Role in a Meeting?
The role of a chairman in a meeting is to direct the meeting by clarifying roles, establishing rules and participating as one of the members. The chairman summarizes key decisions and recommendations made during the meeting while ensuring members remain accountable. The chairman closes the meeting on time.
The chairman directs the content of a meeting and can have opinions on issues discussed during the meeting. Before the meeting, the chairman prepares a schedule and agenda for the meeting. The chairman keeps the meeting focused on agenda items because he has the power to stop the meeting and change the subject of discussion. The chairman evaluates the meeting after it has ended to determine areas that need improvement. Such an evaluation should be conducted immediately after the meeting when most details are still memorable. It is crucial that the chairman seeks direct informal feedback from attendees at the end of the meeting in order to address any shortcomings.
The chairman follows up with members who made commitments during the meeting to clarify the assigned tasks and the agreed timelines for completion. The chairman ensures that all agreements reached during the meeting are confirmed and recorded in the minutes to increase accountability.
