会议是商业领域中不可或缺的重要一环，成功的会议可以集思广益，可以产生积极对策，可以解决实际问题；失败的会议则毫无组织，毫无秩序，最终也毫无裨益。主持成功的会议是优秀管理者必备的软资产！如何才能开展成功的会议？下面的七大秒诀可以帮助你成为一名成功的会议组织者！
We've all attended meetings that failed to start on time,ran way over, or simply felt like a waste of time because the agenda was not followed. When meetings get off track or drag on, people start thinking about other, more important things they could be doing.
我们都出席过这样的会议——不准时开始、迟迟才结束或者因为不按议程进行而像浪费时间。当会议偏离正题或拖拖拉拉时，人们就会开始想他们能做的其他更重要的事情。
So what's the secret to an engaging, results-driven, on-schedule meeting where everyone is motivated to participate? Here are seven tips for keeping everyone turned in and intent on giving their best throughout the meeting:
那么如何开展一场吸引人的、富有成效的、依程序进行的、人人都积极参与的会议呢？下面是让每个与会者全程专注于会议并决心发挥最大效用的七大秒诀：
1.Issue an agenda so attendees can come prepared.
发布一份议程表，让与会者有备而来。
2.Ask for a volunteer to be a timekeeper for your meetings—make it his or her job to remind you of agenda item time limits. This frees you to focus on content.
请一位志愿当会议计时员——让他/她负责提醒你每项议程的时间限制。这样，你就可以专注于会议的内容了。
3.Start and end on time! Keep to the agenda items and minimize off-topic conversations.
准时开始和结束！围绕议程开会，最大限度减少与主题无关的谈话。
4.Establish ground rules for more effective meetings, including having only one person talk at a time—no side conversations.
制定让会议更加有效率的基本规则，包括一次只能有一个人发言，其他人不得私下议论。
5.Rotate the chairperson at each meeting to improve team members' meeting-management skills and to get them more involved.
让各与会者轮流作会议主持人，以加强团队成员的会议管理技能，让他们更多地参与进来。
6.Gain consensus on decisions.
作出的每一个决定都要取得与会者一致同意。
7.At the end of each meeting, have team members rate its effectiveness and ask for their input on ideas for improvement.
每次会议结束时，让各成员为会议的有效性评分，并征求他们关于改善会议的建议。
The key to successful meetings is to get attendees to agree that you will all operate by these guidelines. No one wants to participate in meetings that they feel are a waste of their time, so get their support in making sure that everyone is engaged, attentive, and, at the very least, awake.
开展成功会议的关键，是让与会者同意按这些规则行事。没有人想要参与浪费时间的会议，因此，争取他们的支持，确保每个人都投入、专注，至少不要打瞌睡。
（周靓茹，何淑珍译）