Meeting Vocabulary
Define the word "Agenda."
A list of topics to be discussed in a meeting.
Why is it important to set an agenda?
To keep the meeting focused and organized.
What does "Let’s table this" mean?
Postpone the discussion for later.
What would you do if side conversations are happening?
Politely ask everyone to focus on the main discussion.
Shorten this: "It is absolutely essential that we adhere to the timeline provided to ensure that the project stays on track."
"We must stick to the timeline."
"We should follow the timeline to stay on track."
"Let's adhere to the timeline."
Define the term "Minutes."
Notes summarizing what happened during a meeting.
What should you do if someone interrupts during a meeting?
Politely ask them to wait their turn.
What does "Can we circle back to this?" mean?
Return to the topic later.
What would you do if someone seems disengaged?
Ask them for their thoughts or opinions in a friendly manner.
Shorten this: "We should take into account all possible perspectives from everyone involved before coming to a final decision that impacts the group."
"Let's consider all perspectives first."
"We'll take everyone’s views into account."
"We should review all perspectives before deciding."
Define "Facilitator."
The person responsible for guiding the meeting.
Why is it important to summarize at the end of a meeting?
To ensure everyone understands the key points and next steps.
What does "Does everyone agree?" mean?
Asking if everyone is okay with a decision.
How do you handle a conflict between two participants?
Mediate and remind them of the meeting’s purpose.
Shorten this: "I think it would be beneficial and more productive to revisit this topic at a later point in time when we have more information available."
"We can revisit this later."
"Let's revisit this when we have more details."
"We'll discuss this later with more data."
Define "Consensus."
General agreement among meeting participants.
How can you encourage quieter participants to share their thoughts?
Ask them directly for their input in a respectful and friendly way.
Make this phrase shorter: "At this point in time, we should consider other options."
"We should consider other options now."
What do you do if the discussion goes off-topic?
Redirect the conversation back to the agenda.
Shorten this: "To be completely honest with you, I’m not entirely convinced that this is the right approach to take for solving the problem."
"I’m not sure this is right."
"I’m not convinced this will work."
"This may not be the best approach."
Define "Action Items."
Tasks assigned during the meeting to specific individuals.
What is one way to ensure clear action items?
Assign clear tasks with specific deadlines and with responsible individuals.
Make this phrase shorter: "In order to make progress, we need to ensure everyone is aligned."
"To make progress, we need alignment."
What do you do if time runs out before all topics are covered?
Schedule a follow-up meeting for the remaining topics.
Shorten this: "We need to carefully and thoroughly evaluate the pros and cons of this decision before moving forward to ensure the best outcome for everyone."
"We need to weigh the pros and cons."
"Evaluate pros and cons before deciding."
"Review pros and cons for the best outcome."