Keep an Eye on the Time

Nobody likes wasting time sitting through a long meeting when a short one would do. Group leaders need to be aware of time constraints to keep their meetings running efficiently and to respect the time pressures on the other members. When large groups are involved or when the agenda includes many topics or issues, it can be helpful to impose time limits on certain components of the discussion. When a decision must be made, taking an informal vote on a decision—a tactic called a nonbinding straw poll—can help move the group forward.