Meeting facilitation language

Here are some useful phrases you may use to facilitate a meeting.

Introducing the first item

So, the first item on the agenda is…………
Would you like to start Peter?
To get the ball rolling, I would like to talk about…
Let’s begin with…

Closing an item

I think that covers the first item
I think we’ve spent enough time on this topic. Moving on…
If nobody has anything else to add, let’s move on to the next item
I’d like to skip item 2 and go directly to item 3

Next item

On to you Sally for the next item
Now we come to the question of …
Next on our agenda is…
I’d like to hand it over to George who will tell us…

Getting the meeting back on topic

I’m afraid that’s outside the scope of this meeting.
I think we’d better leave that for another meeting
We’d better save that for another meeting.
I think we’re getting a bit off topic.
Let’s get back on track, OK?
Getting back to… [topic]

Asking for contributions
To avoid only getting contributions from the same person/people, invite those who have not said anything to speak by using the following sentences.

Would you like to add anything Ann?
Mark, do you have any (other) thoughts/ comments/ opinions/ views on this?
Sally, what do you think about this/that?
Let’s go around the table to get your feedback
How about you Dave, do you agree?

Helping to arrive at an agreement

Maybe we can decide this with a show of hands.
Please raise your hand if…
I think I can suggest a compromise.
Can anyone suggest a (possible) compromise?

Keeping the meeting on target

Please be brief
We’re running short on time, so let’s move on
Okay, we’ve still got a few points to get through, so…
I hate to cut you off but we’re running out of time
Thank you, I would love to hear more but we need to move on, so that we can finish on time
Sorry to interrupt but we don’t have the time to discuss that now

Summarizing

To sum up,…
So, to summarise our discussion 
Shall I go over the main points
So we all agree that …

Ending the meeting

It looks like we’ve covered the main items on the agenda
It was a very productive meeting
If no one has anything else to add, then I think we’ll wrap this up
Harry will distribute the minutes and actions from today’s meeting
That will be all for today
Well, I think someone is waiting for this room, so shall we call it a day ?
Thank you all for attending