Objective: Managing time

You are in a meeting that is going to finish in five minutes. There are still three agenda points to discuss. Read through the agenda points quickly and note down any ideas that you have.

Make a dialogue discussing all the agenda points and use phrases from Reading 1 to manage the time.

Staff reward scheme:We achieved good results this year. How can we reward the staff?

Reception:How can we make the reception area more interesting for visitors?

Paternity leave:Several members of staff have enquired about the possibility of taking unpaid paternity leave. Should we introduce it for all staff?

Keeping to the point.

Match the phrases 1-6 with the headings a-c.

1 We need to focus on the main point.

2 Let's get back to the point.

3 Can we keep on track?
4 Let's move on.

5 Now where were we?

6 What's our next point?

a Keep to the point

b Return to the point

c Move on to a new topic

Good business practice

In some cultures, attitudes to time in meetings are relaxed and there might not be a formal agenda. In other cultures, people have a more structured attitude to meetings, they are expected to begin and end on time and keep to a pre-set agenda.

Relaxed People may come and go at different times throughout the meeting. Topics do not have to be discussed in a particular order. The meeting goes on as long as necessary, until everyone agrees on a decision. Agreement is more important than deadlines.

Structured The meeting has a set start time and it is not polite to be late or to leave before the end. A formal agenda is circulated before the meeting. Items are discussed in the order that they appear on the agenda. The meeting has a pre-arranged time to finish and all decisions should be agreed by that time.

Closing the meeting.

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