Many of the meetings we attend or lead simply need to be completely blown up and rebuilt entirely. Maybe the original intent has been altered, or we have fallen into a rhythm and routine and lowered the bar too low. Sometimes, we just might need to have a meeting to design all the ones that don’t work.

Most meeting start weak and never gain momentum. It’s up to the designated meeting leader to start every meeting with clarity, organization, conviction, and purpose. As a seasoned meeting facilitator, I will share simple ways to start strong, set the tone and get every participant ready for a meaningful exchange.

One of the contributing causes to bad meetings is that nobody takes notes. After a long, meandering discussion, there is no one assigned to capture key topics, define action items, and keep everyone on track for the next meeting. The result is that professionals repeat the same conversations and slow down progress. In this episode, I provide some practical guidance to write clear and concise summaries that make an impact.