A meeting is much more effective if all attendees understand their responsibility before, during and after the meeting. Clearly defined roles, rights, and responsibilities will keep all attendees actively involved, creating a dynamic synergy whereby the group process is focused on the goals at hand and creating a shared sense of achievement toward those goals.

Listed below are tips for attendees' responsibility for an effective meeting process.

TIPS FOR ATTENDEES' RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN EFFECTIVE MEETING PROCESS

1. Advance Preparation
   1. Submit agenda items to the leader at appropriate time
   2. Come to the meeting prepared to discuss important issues
   3. Read and study distributed information and do necessary research
2. Attendance
   1. Attend all meetings
   2. Arrive at meetings in time to be ready for the beginning of the meeting
   3. Arrange to stay until the end of the meeting
   4. Attend not only in body, but in mind and spirit
3. Equality
   1. Understand that in the meeting all attendees have equal rights but not necessarily equal responsibilities or authority
   2. Understand that outside of the meeting, those same people do not necessarily have equal authority
   3. Exert peer pressure on other group members to control excessive talking and other inappropriate behavior
   4. Protect the rights of attendees with a minority point of view
4. Honesty
   1. Say what you mean and mean what you say
   2. Share ideas in an honest and open manner. If complaints exist, air them in the meeting – not after the meeting in the parking lot!
   3. Do not allow the authority positions of other attendees to intimidate you into silence during the meeting
   4. Keep confidentiality of meetings when agreed to
5. Unity of Action
   1. Once an action has been decided upon, the decision should be supported by the whole group
   2. Once the group has decided to conduct a test of a solution, the group should also agree to support the results of that test
   3. Refrain from complaining about other attendees or the group when outside the meeting.
6. Follow-Up
   1. After the meeting and in a timely fashion, complete any tasks that were assigned or volunteered for
   2. After the meeting, share with the group leader any evaluative comments

Effective Meeting Planning Tips | Meeting Process Tips | Meeting Follow-Up Tips | Attendees' Responsibilities

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