Productive, Stress Free Meetings

To truly transform meetings, here are some strategies to enhance value. This shifts from just doing activities to a refocus on outcomes. If an outcome cannot be identified...don't have the meeting. Poof! Time appears to do more value-add functions.

Start with the Purpose: Begin every meeting by reiterating its purpose and desired outcomes. This reinforces the agenda’s focus and ensures participants understand why they are there.

Include a “Value-Add” Segment: Reserve a few minutes at the end of meetings for participants to share insights or suggestions that weren’t on the agenda but could add value to the discussion. This creates a space for innovative ideas and fosters a sense of collaboration.

Adopt a “No Agenda, No Meeting” Policy: Encourage a culture where meetings without agendas are canceled or postponed. This policy reinforces the importance of structured discussions and ensures only necessary meetings take place.

Prioritize Participation: Encourage a “Round Robin” discussion format where each participant has a chance to contribute. This fosters inclusivity and makes it easier to identify hidden insights or perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.

Follow Up Efficiently: After the meeting, circulate a summary that includes decisions made, action items, and assigned responsibilities. Timely follow-ups ensure accountability and maintain momentum.

Check out more tips in the behavior driven meetings video (13 min): Productive, Stress Free Meetings

• An average of 31 hours per month/per employee is lost to unproductive meetings.
• 67% of employees state being drained after a meeting.
• A mid-level meeting costs around $500/hour if productive. A dysfunctional department meeting costs around $5,000/hour which includes spillover effects throughout the day leading to more unproductive time. 

Grab up a meeting audit here: Meeting Makeover