One of the simplest yet most overlooked truths about leadership is that great meetings build great teams. Meetings are where alignment happens, ideas are sparked and accountability is strengthened. Yet too many meetings end up feeling like time we’ll never get back.

Here are my top tips to make sure every meeting is productive, engaging and worth your team’s time. 

1. Have a Clear Purpose and Outcome
Have you ever been in a meeting where you’re halfway through and nobody knows why they’re there? It’s painful. A successful meeting always starts with a purpose. Before you even send the invite, ask yourself, What’s the goal here? What do I want to achieve by the end of this meeting? Whether it’s brainstorming, solving a problem or updating the team, make the purpose clear and communicate it upfront. That clarity sets the tone and keeps everyone focused. 

2. Set and Share an Agenda
Imagine showing up to a soccer game with no plan or lineup. Meetings are no different. An agenda is your game plan. It doesn’t need to be long or detailed; even a few bullet points will do. Send it out ahead of time, so people come prepared. Better yet, ask if there’s anything the team wants to add. This way, everyone feels they have ownership, and you’re less likely to be blindsided by last-minute topics. 

3. Start Strong, Stay on Track
The first few minutes of any meeting are crucial. They set the mood. I like to start with a quick icebreaker (‘Everyone show up with a joke,’ or, ‘What’s the last show you binge watched on Netflix?’) and then move to a round of kudos and shout-outs. This builds cohesion, energy and reminds us we’re a team working toward the same goal. Don’t let this drag on. Keep things moving. One way to stay on track is to assign a time limit to each agenda item and stick to it. If something needs more time, table it for a future meeting or sidebar conversation. 

4. Be wary of the Rabbit Hole
A great meeting is a two-way street. Encourage team members to share their thoughts, but be prepared to prevent one person from dominating the conversation or taking you way off track. Like the banks of a river keeping water flowing in the right direction, it’s your job to set boundaries and table issues that are not mission critical. It’s ok to interrupt meanderings and bring the discussion back to the topic at hand. This is a skill that needs practice but is key to keeping folks engaged in your meeting.  

5. End with Action Steps
A meeting that doesn’t lead to action is just a chat. Before you close, summarize key takeaways and assign clear action items. Make sure each action has an owner and a deadline. Follow-up is everything. After the meeting, send a quick recap with action steps and next steps. It’s a small step that builds accountability and ensures things don’t slip through the cracks. If this isn’t your strength, appoint someone on your team to send that email by end of day. If you only do one thing from this blog, do this and watch your productivity after meetings soar!!!