Sometime in the morning, at least for me, the day kicks off with a meeting—whether it’s that 6:30 AM tag-up or the 9:30 AM team huddle. You bring your employees together to accomplish some mission, but here’s the thing: I’ve been in meetings scheduled for an hour, and by God, they’ll take every last second of that hour. It’s not just frustrating—it’s a waste of everyone’s time.
Meetings need to be goal-driven. They need a purpose. Sure, some people like to have their standard “tag-ups,” and that’s fine. I get it. But here’s my question: is there structure, or are you just going to let it turn into a “shoot the shit” session that drags on forever? I say no.
The Problem with Ineffective Meetings
We’ve all been there: meetings with no direction, no clear goal, and no end in sight. They start as a quick update and somehow end up as an hour-long discussion about nothing. It’s like the clock becomes the mission—just fill the time. The result? Frustrated employees who feel like their time is being wasted and leaders who lose control of their schedule.
If your meeting doesn’t have a purpose, what are you even doing?
The Importance of Purpose and Goals
Every meeting needs a reason to exist. If you’re bringing your team together, it’s because there’s something that needs to get done, not because it’s “on the schedule.” As a leader, your job in these meetings is simple:
1. Find out what’s going on.
2. Let your team know you’re available to solve problems.
3. Help them move forward with their tasks.
That’s it. The meeting is not about you—it’s about helping your team accomplish the mission.
Stand-Up Meetings: Short and Sweet
Now, let’s talk about those quick check-ins, the stand-up meetings. These should never, ever take more than 15 minutes. Why? Because they’re not meant for long discussions—they’re for updates.
Here’s how they should go:
• Give everyone time to say what they need.
• Discuss immediate challenges or roadblocks.
• Let people get back to work.
A stand-up meeting isn’t a therapy session or a brainstorming marathon. It’s about alignment. Keep it short, keep it focused, and move on.
Longer Meetings and the Role of Agendas
If your meeting has to go longer than 15 minutes, then it better have an agenda. No exceptions. People should walk into the meeting knowing exactly what’s going to be covered.
Here’s how you structure it:
• Write down the topics to cover.
• Assign time limits to each one.
• Share it ahead of time so people can prepare.
Agendas keep you on track and prevent the meeting from spiraling into unrelated chatter. Without one, you’re just wasting everyone’s time—and let’s be honest, nobody likes that.
Conclusion
Meetings are part of the job, but they don’t have to be a burden. Whether it’s a quick 15-minute stand-up or a longer session with a clear agenda, the goal is always the same: to serve the mission and help your team succeed.
So next time you’re in a meeting, ask yourself: What’s the purpose? If you can’t answer that, maybe the meeting doesn’t need to happen at all.