Meeting Mastery: From Chaos to Decisions
Why it works
Decision-driven meetings save time. The key is preparing for decisions and limiting attendance to deciders and contributors.
How to use it
- Default to 25/50 minutes.
- Agenda starts with decisions needed today.
- Limit attendees to deciders + key contributors; send notes to the rest.
- Use a parking lot for off-topic items and timeboxes for focus.
Examples
Decision needed: choose vendor A or B.
Options: A (faster), B (cheaper). Cost trade-offs attached.
Template
Goal: [decision or outcome]
Topics: [ordered by impact]
Decisions Needed:
Owners + Dates:
Parking Lot:
FAQ
How many people should attend?
Invite deciders and key contributors. Everyone else gets notes.
How do we avoid rabbit holes?
Use a parking lot and timeboxes; return only if the decision needs it.
What if we can’t decide?
Run a one-week experiment and reconvene with data.