I Implore You —Read “Read This Before Our Next Meeting!”
A screenshot of the cover of Al Pittampalli’s book

In 2013, Al Pittampalli wrote this marvelous short book on how best to run meetings and decide which meetings to attend. It is still the best book on meetings I have ever read. Despite it having sold over 100,000 copies and the key points being published and updated at ModernMeetingStandard.com, I have yet to work with any individual or organization that has attempted to adopt this strategy. Instead, my calendar has often been jam-packed with meetings hosted by a project manager for the purpose of engaging in exploratory discussions or obtaining updates from each invitee. So, in the interest of improving meetings and efficiency everywhere, below are four of Pittampalli’s most interesting recommendations.

Informational meetings should be eliminated within the organization. Brainstorming sessions are still encouraged for creative purposes but are not considered meetings. A meeting should only be called to: (1) support a decision that the decision maker has made and proposes be implemented, (2) resolve conflict or (3) coordinate a plan of action. The decision maker should seek any required input from colleagues in one-on-one conversations in advance. The decision to be supported during the meeting will have been thoroughly researched and considered by the decision maker before the meeting agenda is distributed. An agenda must be distributed well in advance of the meeting, setting out the decision being debated or the action being coordinated. People are expected to come prepared to weigh-in and reach a conclusion during the meeting. People that are unprepared or have nothing to add are expected to decline the meeting invitation and accept the outcome of the meeting. The conclusion of the meeting will be memorialized by the host and circulated. This document will specify the decisions reached, actions to be taken, and individuals responsible for each action.

That’s not all of Pittampalli’s suggestions, but even if everyone only implements the above recommendations, many hours now occupied by meetings could be re-allocated to more valuable work.
['C.N. Dale']
['Business', 'Meetings', 'Best Practices', 'Book Recommendations']