> Try to figure out why the meeting is happening before you’re in the meeting. It’s much easier to prepare if you understand why it’s happening. As a general r

> Try to figure out why the meeting is happening before you’re in the meeting. It’s much easier to prepare if you understand why it’s happening. As a general rule for Executives, whenever you want to talk to ICs even if Senior ICs, _always_ provide a one-liner on the topic. So many times I had the secretive email or IM from VPs or CTOs "Can we talk? When is a good time for you?". Often they have an agenda in their heads but not expanding on it is anxiety inducing for someone working under you in the hierarchy. It's similar to that rule of thumb that you don't joke about firing someone if they are your direct reports (or even if they are not really).