These are techniques that should be common knowledge to all melee players.
Believe it or not a good meleer simply would not click and wait and use skills.
Certain situations call for certain actions. Meleers are given a bad
reputation for the actions of those unenlightened of these techniques.
Know these well, and make sure you use them too.

1. Aggro: This doesn’t apply to PVP but do not run into a group of enemies. Have
your party’s designated puller do his job to allow the party to fight as little
amount of opponents at one point in time. If you want to or are the puller,
then be familiar with the next part;

2. Pulling: Pulling does not require but is strongly recommended to be done by
a long range weapon/spell. The best way to do it is with a longbow, any longbow
will do well. By doing this you are actively selecting a proper battle area for
your party (proper meaning an area where you wouldnt be attacked by other
opposing forces as you fight) and you may be separating the pulled group of
foes away from another group.
Simply fire the longbow at what you suspect to be a member of the party you
want to pull and back away.

3. Call Target/Follow Target: As a mesmer this wouldnt affect you unless you
are a damager type.
A focused fire is more effective than spread fire in most cases, learn to call
a target (ctrl+attack) and learn to follow targets if you arent the caller
(T button will have your character target the called one).

4. Calling: Players can also call several things by holding ctrl and clicking
at whatever they want to call. (This also could be called Pinging)
They may declare they are blind, they have low energy, low health, or even call
what enchantment or hex is currently on them. Use this to your advantage,
as a mesmer you should learn how to respond to certain calls as well as be
able to call them yourself.
Saying “I have Deep Wound on me” and having someone respond and remove it can
save you a bit of frustration and get you back into the battle.

5. Directions: Learn how to direct your party of humans to places with your
minimap.
This enables players to broadcast strategies without having to type it out.
Always pay attention to the minimap since anyone might be directing the
party or transmitting a certain battle plan.

6. Chasing: This is one of the most important parts of being a meleer.
Knowledge of when to chase and when not to chase plays a huge role in your
performance.
     -If you are on focus fire, do not chase a target running far back.
      You do not want to be far away from your team’s ability to help.
      You also do not want to pull your team healers or supporters into the
      chaotic area.
     -If you are snared, dont chase. If you are snared and cannot remove the
      speed reduction hex or condition, instead of chasing your target,
      switch to someone stationary. By doing this, you add to the party’s DPS
      or damage per second and you are encouraging sevral people to run
      instead of letting them be carefree and do their job.

7. Retreat: Part of being a good meleer is retreating. Whenever you are in
danger, run back to your party. This is very cruicial to a meleeing mesmer or
an assassin. By doing this you are…
     -Not being a Healsink. You are giving your team healers a bit more
      breathing room, relieving them of pressure.
     -Pulling the enemy. Any casters or ranged opponents that nests at the far
      back of the opposing party that are locked on to you will be forced to
      move forward to continue attacking or casting on you. If they choose to
      do so, you are setting them up closer to your team and leading them to
      possible danger.
Retreat is not dishonorable as long as it is intended to further the win for
your party and not just to annoy the opposing team (i.e. running around to
keep opposing team chasing after you pointlessly even if you cannot do anything
to clear your objective [eliminate opposing team])

8. Snaring/Speed Buffing: This allows you to keep your target close to you and
increase your DPS should your target decide to kite you. Many meleers decide
not to bring a snare or a speed buff which is very unwise. Yelling at your
target saying hes a coward for running is not a valid tactic.
It is annoying and itshows how much of an ignorant you could be.
Do not do this.

9. Know your hexes, stances, enchantments and weapon spells: Knowing which
of these affect your melee performance is cruicial. You do not want to strike
while under empathy or spiteful spirit. You do not want go near that Spirit
of Disenchantment, etc. Take time to read all the profession’s skills and
try to recognize as best as you can those that affect your Build.