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I’m in a company of +6k. > Rule 1 was to have an agenda available in the meeting invite Same rule here, but enforced. We are allowed (and encouraged) to canc

I’m in a company of +6k. > Rule 1 was to have an agenda available in the meeting invite Same rule here, but enforced. We are allowed (and encouraged) to cancel or decline invitations without an agenda here. In my experience, it makes a big positive difference, when people have to justify why they need someone’s time and provide a rough frame for the discussion. Much more focused, much more efficient. Fewer meeting where I think “I shouldn’t have joined”.

sitkack 1y ago
Is part of the agenda the outcomes desired, some could be a) gather feedback b) broadcast a new thing c) discuss and decide on next course of action ... It would be nice if agendas explained each persons role in the outcome and what the exit conditions are for the meeting.
- throw-qqqqq 1y ago
  There are other recommendations around meetings, but the agenda is 100% mandatory. Desired outcomes, minutes of meetings etc. are also part of the default invite template.
Scubabear68 1y ago
Yep. Right now I am living the opposite, consulting to a huge company where anyone can convene huge meetings with no agendas, especially if they are a compliance person, or product person. We have many, many meetings where many people have no idea what the meeting is about, or even worse they will talk about 3 or 4 different topics. They also practice what I call Rumor Driven Development. It is not fun.
- pempem 1y ago
  It might not be fun but the term is great! 'Rumor Driven Development' - definitely keeping this in my back pocket. In consulting you tend to encounter this a lot given that its the largest visible symptom of a lot of root problems such as: 1/ no owner 2/ unaligned priorities 3/ a lot of fear or lack of ownership mentality Generally I push for an agenda and an owner of each topic (or all topics) and a recap, preferably in a transparent location like confluence. Given all the synthesis tools in the market, synthesis has gotten easier. I also generally push to have leadership realize how costly each meeting is and encourage people to excuse themselves from meetings if they are not: owners, influencers, stakeholders.
mcswell 1y ago
I get the "must have agenda" rule, and I'm all for enforcement of that rule, but how did they ensure that the agenda was contentful and meaningful? Not "(1) Convene and take roll, (2) Talk about projects, (3) Set do-outs." [or is it due-outs?]
- s1artibartfast 1y ago
  At a 100k company, my leadership encourages people to decline meetings without clearly stated agendas and purpose. If you have a poor agenda you look like a clown and people wont come.
camel_gopher 1y ago
No agenda, no attenda
theshrike79 1y ago
My record for an useless meeting was when the Lead Architect called an all-hands R&D meeting (40-50 people) for the whole morning (0800->1200) It was him reading tickets off Jira and editing them and randomly asking people about clarifications. I was a consultant at the time, billing around 100€/hour and there were others along with their own people. That meeting was a) completely useless for 95% of the people there and b) cost about 15k€ easily.

sitkack 1y ago

Is part of the agenda the outcomes desired, some could be a) gather feedback b) broadcast a new thing c) discuss and decide on next course of action ... It would be nice if agendas explained each persons role in the outcome and what the exit conditions are for the meeting.

throw-qqqqq 1y ago
There are other recommendations around meetings, but the agenda is 100% mandatory. Desired outcomes, minutes of meetings etc. are also part of the default invite template.

Scubabear68 1y ago

Yep. Right now I am living the opposite, consulting to a huge company where anyone can convene huge meetings with no agendas, especially if they are a compliance person, or product person. We have many, many meetings where many people have no idea what the meeting is about, or even worse they will talk about 3 or 4 different topics. They also practice what I call Rumor Driven Development. It is not fun.

pempem 1y ago
It might not be fun but the term is great! 'Rumor Driven Development' - definitely keeping this in my back pocket. In consulting you tend to encounter this a lot given that its the largest visible symptom of a lot of root problems such as: 1/ no owner 2/ unaligned priorities 3/ a lot of fear or lack of ownership mentality Generally I push for an agenda and an owner of each topic (or all topics) and a recap, preferably in a transparent location like confluence. Given all the synthesis tools in the market, synthesis has gotten easier. I also generally push to have leadership realize how costly each meeting is and encourage people to excuse themselves from meetings if they are not: owners, influencers, stakeholders.

mcswell 1y ago

I get the "must have agenda" rule, and I'm all for enforcement of that rule, but how did they ensure that the agenda was contentful and meaningful? Not "(1) Convene and take roll, (2) Talk about projects, (3) Set do-outs." [or is it due-outs?]

s1artibartfast 1y ago
At a 100k company, my leadership encourages people to decline meetings without clearly stated agendas and purpose. If you have a poor agenda you look like a clown and people wont come.

camel_gopher 1y ago

No agenda, no attenda

theshrike79 1y ago

My record for an useless meeting was when the Lead Architect called an all-hands R&D meeting (40-50 people) for the whole morning (0800->1200) It was him reading tickets off Jira and editing them and randomly asking people about clarifications. I was a consultant at the time, billing around 100€/hour and there were others along with their own people. That meeting was a) completely useless for 95% of the people there and b) cost about 15k€ easily.