How to Run a Productive Meeting (That People Don’t Hate)

Let’s face it—most meetings are terrible.

They drag on too long, people tune out, and at the end, it’s hard to pinpoint anything that actually got done.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Meetings can be powerful tools for driving action and alignment—when they’re done right.

The key? Running meetings with purpose, clear structure, and focused outcomes.

I'm going to teach you how to do exactly that.

The Problem with Most Meetings

I've found one giant issue with most meetings.
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Meetings often feel like they’re held just because it’s on the calendar, not because they’re necessary.

People attend, but nothing gets resolved. Or worse, they leave more confused than when they came in.

Time wasted, morale drained, and productivity slowed.

Meetings should be where the action happens—where teams collaborate, align on goals, and leave knowing exactly what comes next.

If that’s not happening, something needs to change.

How to Run a Meeting That People Will Love

Every meeting needs a reason to exist.

Before every meeting, you need to answer:

1. What problem are you solving?

2. What decisions need to be made?
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Without a clear purpose, you’re just talking in circles. At the start of each meeting, state the goal upfront and stick to it.

This sounds simple, but it’s critical.

Agendas keep meetings on track and prevent endless tangents.

Send out the agenda ahead of time so people know what to expect and come prepared.

Pro Tip: Include time blocks for each topic to keep discussions from dragging on.

The fewer people, the better.

Only invite those who are essential to the meeting's goal.

If others need to be informed, send them a summary afterward. This keeps the discussion focused and reduces distractions.

Meetings shouldn’t be a monologue.

Encourage everyone to contribute ideas or ask questions.

Set boundaries to prevent one person from dominating or taking the conversation off-course.

Outline Action Items

Before closing the meeting, make sure every attendee knows what happens next.

Who’s responsible for what? By when?

If people leave with more questions than answers, the meeting wasn’t effective.

Bonus Tip: Make Meetings Shorter

Most meetings can be cut in half—easily.

Time limits force people to get to the point.

If you schedule a 60-minute meeting, it will fill 60 minutes.

Cut it to 30, and you’ll find people are more concise and focused.

Meetings don’t have to be something your team dreads. With clear objectives, a structured agenda, and actionable outcomes, you can run productive meetings that people value—and that drive results.

Talk soon,

Shaun