商业公司把会议当做向职员和顾客提供信息的一种迅速有效的方法。无论是哪个行业的企业或单位举办会议，不论谋划次会议的谋划者经验是不是丰富，单纯站在举办方的立场与角度上剖析，如何让会议富有效果，都是一个叫人费神的主题。那样，怎么样才能让会议更紧凑，更有效呢？
You should know what ends you want to achieve in a meeting before it starts and prepare for it by reading any papers circulated beforehand, and carefully thinking about what you want to say. This may sound rather boring, but solid preparation is the key to successful meeting. A great deal of time and energy can be wasted through simple lack of planning.
The most important issues are not always given the most time in the general running of meetings. People are often unwilling2 to discuss important budgetary matters because they do not fully1 understand them, but everyone becomes an expert when it comes to discussing the color of the new curtains, or what type of coffee to buy! The discussion of such trivial matters as these, therefore, should be saved until the end of the meeting.
During the meeting it is essential to stick to the agenda so as to avoid the common problem of repetition. At the same time you ought to be sensitive to other peoples ideas and feelings. And never lose your temper. Be prepared to accept and complement3 a suggestion that is contrary to your own ideas if it is an improvement on them; such honesty and flexibility4 are signs of good leadership and earn respect.
Finally, remember that when a decision is made it is important to act on it and to homour all the commitments you have made in the meeting.
