When Meetings Can’t Be an Email: How to Make Meetings More Impactful

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It’s practically an old saw at this point: “That meeting could have been an email.” However, many meetings can’t just be an email, no matter how you may wish it were different. Certain topics and business problems simply require face-to-face conversation so decisions can be made or action plans formulated. When that’s the case, it’s up to leaders to make meetings worth everyone’s time.

At those times when email won’t do, here are some tips for making in-person and virtual meetings more impactful.

Make an Agenda (and Stick to It)

You likely schedule every meeting for a specific purpose. But if the meeting doesn’t stay on topic, your attendees might soon tune out or become annoyed. This is why a meeting agenda is a must. A detailed agenda outlines the goal of the meeting and topics you need to cover.