Below are a few tips about how to open a meeting:

• Thank people - At the beginning of each meeting it is a good idea to thank people for attending and welcome them to the meeting.  If there are new people at the meeting then it may also be worth introducing them to the group and allowing all participants to introduce themselves so the new participant feels welcome.
• Start on time - You should look to start your meeting on time.  This will help you keep to time but it also shows respect to the people who turned up on time and can serve as a reminder to late comers that the schedule is serious.
• Engage the group - Always do a quick run through of the agenda for the meeting to check everyone is comfortable and add on any other points that participants want to raise or discuss.

Key point to remember

The most important thing to remember when you open a meeting is that people will be looking at you for leadership and guidance.  It is important that you personally model the kind of energy level that you want participants to have in the meeting.  A formal and stilted introduction to a meeting will result in participants being withdrawn and formal in their interactions and responses.  A frantic/manic introduction to a meeting will result in participants responding in a manic way and not necessarily following the structure and agenda provided.  At times it may be appropriate to employ either style, but generally a middle ground of professional and structured enthusiasm is the key to opening a good meeting.

The opening of a meeting is like the beginning of a book.  If it doesn't capture the interest immediately then it risks being put down and ignored.  The key to a good meeting is opening it well!

Downloads:

Managing Meetings.pdf

A guide to managing meetings.

Planning a Great Meeting.pdf

How to plan for a great meeting.