Meetings are occasions when people come together to get something done, whether it is sharing information or making decisions. They may be good, bad or indifferent. While there is no foolproof way to insure successful meetings, there are a number of guidelines that will go a long way toward helping groups to meet both joyfully and productively.
Most people can learn how to facilitate a good meeting but it does take some time and attention.
The more people within a group who are aware of good group process skills, the easier the task of the facilitator and the more satisfactory the meeting. A facilitator is not quite the same as a leader or chairperson, but more like a clerk in a Quaker meeting. A facilitator makes no decisions for the group, but suggests ways that will help the group to move forward. He or she works in such a way that the people present at the meeting are aware that they are in charge, that it is their business that is being conducted, and that each person has a role to play. It is important to emphasize that the responsibility of the facilitator is to the group and its work rather than to the individuals within the group.