7. Feedback
After introducing the agenda, ask for feedback. Appropriate language includes:
Does any one have any questions about the agenda?
Is everyone clear on the agenda?
Are we all happy with this agenda?
Asking such questions at this stage helps to encourage participation, confirm understanding and makes it more likely that the meeting will progress smoothly.
A small point to note is in order to promote a positive mood it is better to ask “Are we all happy with this agenda?” rather than “Does any one have any questions about the agenda?” because a positive answer to the former question is “Yes”. It’s a good idea to get participants into a habit of saying yes at the start of the meeting.
