Ask the expert: Encourage participation during meetings

Strong, but not dictatorial, leadership is a key to encouraging open discussion and participation during any type of meeting. The chair must manage the group and the meeting, he or she needs to set rules and announce them to the group before the discussion starts. For example:

• Set time limits on individual comments and limit participation to two comments until everyone has had a chance to contribute
• Solicit comments from less active participants by asking an open-ended question, such as, "You have some experience with that, what do you think?"
• Consider allowing participants to go off the record and avoid having their comments appear in the meeting minutes

The Medical Executive Committee Handbook, Third Edition, by Mary J. Hoppa, MD, provides up-to-date information and serves as a guide for MEC members looking to improve their relationship with the medical staff. For more information, click here.