What is the role of a chairperson?

A chairperson's role is to help meetings run efficiently and to ensure that all issues on the agenda are dealt with, and outside of meetings the chairperson serves as the representative of the board or committee. The term is frequently used in government, and some other possible job titles for a chairperson include president, chair and moderator.

A chairperson usually cannot make decisions on his or her own. Instead, the chairperson keeps the meeting on track and may do such tasks as preparing the agenda, making votes and recording the minutes of a meeting. This role requires strong people management, organizational and time management skills to perform well, and being prepared for meetings is essential.