Page 17 - Leadership Basics 10

4. Staying on Line
When the meeting is under way, we have emphasised the importance of keeping control and
ensuring discussions stay on line. If someone deviates from the subject, interrupt and politely ask
the person to stick to the matter in hand. This can be done in a pleasant way: 'Freddie, let me stop
you there a moment. I know you have some interesting views on why England lost, but if I could
take you back to the central issue of staff morale, could you elaborate a little on what you were
saying about the effects of bonus schemes?'

5. The Perpetual Talker
A similar approach needs to be adopted with the perpetual talker, only you have to be a little
firmer: 'Shawie, just hold on one moment please. I want to bring Ricky in here on this point as we
only have limited time.'
If you use people's names and actually ask them for contributions, it makes it more difficult for
those who like the sound of their voices to dominate the meeting. Avoid if possible saying 'Has
anyone got views on this?' Your lime‐light‐seeker will respond even if they have nothing to say.

The chair therefore has to prevent any single individual or group of individuals from taking over the
meeting, and that includes themselves! Just because someone is chair that does not confer the
right to talk more than anyone else.

6. Regular Summaries
Make regular summaries so that you retain your own understanding of what is being said and also
to simplify matters for others. If you are not sure what someone means, ask for clarification. It is
probably not your fault that you do not understand: it is more likely that the speaker has not
assembled his ideas properly or is not voicing them articulately.

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