The value of a well-planned Meeting Agenda.

Whether you're joining calls from your home office or gathering around a table in-person, one thing is true: meetings can be exhausting.

A bit of casual chat is great for building connection - but when it eats into meeting time, it often leads to wandering conversations and unclear outcomes.

That’s where a meeting agenda comes in.
It helps you focus, stay on track, and get real value out of the time you spend together.

Here’s why agendas matter:

Research shows that unnecessary meetings soaked up 157 hours per person in 2020, up from 103 in 2019. That’s nearly four full weeks of lost productivity!

But here’s the good news: creating an agenda is a superpower.

If you sit down to write one and realize everything can be handled in a doc or Slack/Teams thread - great!
Cancel the meeting and give everyone their time back.

Of course, not all meetings should be emails. Some are crucial for moving work forward. But if it does need to be a meeting, an agenda ensures everyone knows:

• What you’re talking about
• Why it matters
• How they can prepare

A few more reasons to use agendas:

• People come prepared. 
  When each agenda item has an owner, everyone knows what’s expected and can show up ready to contribute.
• It respects everyone’s time. A clear agenda signals that the meeting has a purpose - and keeps things focused and on track.
• Sets clear boundaries. It defines what will and won’t be discussed, helping keep conversations focused.
• Keeps everyone on track - Avoids off-topic tangents and makes sure each item gets the right amount of time.
• Gives structure and purpose - Everyone knows why they’re there, what the goal is, and how they can contribute.
• Encourages collaboration - A shared plan makes it easier to spot opportunities to work together.
• Captures next steps - By tracking action items in real-time, nothing gets lost once the meeting ends.

^{Source: Anatomy of Work Index 2021}