The first few minutes of a meeting can set the tone for everything that follows.

This workshop focuses on how to open a meeting professionally and confidently — from greetings and small talk to introductions, objectives and agendas.

You’ll also work on the language used by a chairperson to welcome participants, explain the purpose of a meeting and move smoothly into the main discussion.

You’ll practise how to:

• make professional small talk

• introduce yourself and other participants

• welcome people to a meeting

• explain who cannot attend

• state the meeting’s objectives

• introduce the agenda

• start the discussion naturally

• understand formal and informal agendas

• chair the opening of a meeting