How to Run Lousy Meetings

Overview
This blog post examines the common problems that make meetings unproductive and outlines a simple five-step approach to run better meetings, even when you are short on time.

Key Takeaways

• Identify the purpose of the meeting and share an agenda in advance.
• Limit the meeting length and stick to the scheduled end time.
• Assign a clear owner who is responsible for preparation and outcomes.
• Encourage participation but keep discussions focused on the agenda items.
• Follow up with concise action items and next-steps after the meeting.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers who run regular sprint or stand-up meetings.
• Technical leaders looking to improve team collaboration.
• Project leads responsible for cross-functional syncs.
• Anyone who schedules or facilitates recurring meetings.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Meeting Preparation Framework
• Action-Item Follow-Up Checklist