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For larger enterprises with complex org charts, I consider an agenda one of two invaluable tools for meetings, the other being post-meeting minutes including a

For larger enterprises with complex org charts, I consider an agenda one of two invaluable tools for meetings, the other being post-meeting minutes including a RACI chart. If someone can't think up a few bullet points for a meeting in advance, that person has not prepared for their meeting, and will waste some of the participant's time. Not creating (one-line) minutes that most importantly include decisions that have been made in the meeting is also the perfect set-up for wasting other people's time. I see this similar to the effort of writing a good commit message.

petecooper 2y ago
>RACI chart Today I learned: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matr...
Leynos 2y ago
This is good advice. I hadn't thought to use a RACI chart in this way, but as you describe it, it seems like the most obvious application.
prmoustache 2y ago
Most times that person not preparing the call with an agenda is told in the middle of the meeting that he should have invited someone else that has knowledge on some key point and it ends up needing another meeting to be scheduled. With more context, people may have told him prior to the meeting that person needed to be included to.
- ckastner 2y ago
  Yeah, this is one of the more common failure modes. One meeting wasted, and possibly lots of time lost when the next meeting can only be scheduled much later. All easily preventable if the person organizing the meeting prepares for it, and shares a brief agenda so that other participants can prepare to, or find replacements if they themselves are the wrong person for the meeting.
joncrocks 2y ago
Agenda, expected outcomes. Everyone should know going in what is being discussed and what the expectations are around the objective of the meeting. If you don't have these, you have no idea if it will be a productive meeting. And don't forget https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html

petecooper 2y ago

>RACI chart Today I learned: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matr...

Leynos 2y ago

This is good advice. I hadn't thought to use a RACI chart in this way, but as you describe it, it seems like the most obvious application.

prmoustache 2y ago

Most times that person not preparing the call with an agenda is told in the middle of the meeting that he should have invited someone else that has knowledge on some key point and it ends up needing another meeting to be scheduled. With more context, people may have told him prior to the meeting that person needed to be included to.

ckastner 2y ago
Yeah, this is one of the more common failure modes. One meeting wasted, and possibly lots of time lost when the next meeting can only be scheduled much later. All easily preventable if the person organizing the meeting prepares for it, and shares a brief agenda so that other participants can prepare to, or find replacements if they themselves are the wrong person for the meeting.

joncrocks 2y ago

Agenda, expected outcomes. Everyone should know going in what is being discussed and what the expectations are around the objective of the meeting. If you don't have these, you have no idea if it will be a productive meeting. And don't forget https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html