MAKE MONEY, DO BUSINESS.- Culture and People. Etiquette at meetings.

Read the text and listen to the recording.

The role of the facilitator.

A facilitator is someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and plan to achieve them without personally taking any side of the argument. The facilitator will try to assist the group in achieving consensus. The role of a facilitator has been compared with that of a midwife who assists in the process of creation but is not the producer of the end result.

A facilitator accepts responsibility to help the group accomplish a common task: to move through the agenda in the time available and to make the necessary decisions. A facilitator makes no decisions for the group, but suggests ways to help the group move forward.

If you want to be a successful facilitator, read the following tips:

• Start the meeting on a positive note of confidence and energy.
• Go through the whole agenda. Explain what is to be covered and how.
• Encourage the expression of various viewpoints.
• In tense situations or when solutions are hard to reach, remember that humour, affirmation, change of place, etc., may help.
• Remember that any meeting will benefit from quick breaks.
• In small meetings, it is often a good idea to evaluate the meeting to see how the process, not the content, was perceived by the participants.
• Try to end the meeting on a positive note with a sense of gathering: A song, some silence, standing in a circle, shaking hands.

Text adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facilitator and
http://www.ifuw.org/training/pdf/pdf-facil-meetings.pdf (0.02 MB)

Let's learn a few interesting facts about manners in the UK.

• Do stand in line: In Britain we like to form orderly queues and wait patiently for our turn, e.g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct turn and not push in front. 'Queue jumping' is frowned upon.
• Do say "excuse me": If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move, say excuse me and they will move out of your way.
• Do say "please" and "thank you": It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank you". It is considered rude if you don't.
• Do cover your mouth: When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.
• Do say "sorry": If you accidentally bump into someone, say 'sorry'. They probably will too, even if it was your fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an 'outsider'.
• Do not greet people with a kiss: We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives. Also, avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging. This is only done among close friends.
• Do not ask personal or intimate questions: We like our privacy. Please do not ask questions such as "How much money do you earn?" "How much do you weigh?" or "Why aren't you married?".

Text and activity adapted from http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/behaviour.html

"I'm sorry" songs are quite popular. Here is a list of some songs to tell someone you're sorry for what you've done. I'm sure you can think of some more.

• Elton John - Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
• Evanescence - Forgive me.
• Chicago - Hard to say I'm sorry.
• Elvis Presley - Always on my mind.