{ subscriber.first_name }}, years ago, I ran the worst meeting of my life.
I gathered my team for what was supposed to be a strategic planning session. But I hadn’t set a clear agenda.
I was vague about the goal.
And I invited everyone “just in case” they had something to add.
It was a mess.
People talked in circles.
No one made a decision.
One teammate left early.
And someone told me afterward, “That could have been an email.” Ouch.
That moment changed how I lead meetings.
And then I overcorrected.
When I launched a mastermind group for business owners, I went all in on structure.
Timed segments and a tightly scripted agenda.
It looked great on paper. But by our second meeting, we all knew it was too much.
The best conversations came when we set the structure aside and followed what mattered most to the group.
That’s when I realized: the best meetings don’t just have structure. They have intention, humanity, and room to breathe.
Three Widly Practical Ways to Make Your Meetings Work
- Greet people as they arrive.
A quick, personal check-in as each person joins sets a relaxed and human tone. It doesn’t need to be formal. A “Hey, good to see you,” or “How’s your week?” goes a long way.
- Start with purpose, stay on purpose.
Before you dive in, state why the meeting is happening. Out loud. “We’re here to decide X,” or “This is a working session to align on next steps.” Then check in halfway through: Are we still on track?
- End with clarity, on time.
Leave a few minutes at the end to recap key points, confirm next steps, and name who’s doing what by when. No follow-up fog. No “what did we decide again?”
Great meetings require presence, purpose, and a little respect for people’s time. If you can do that, you’re already ahead of the curve.
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A Little Bit About Regina
I'm Regina Taute (say Howdy Taute and you've pronounced it right) a seasoned talent leader with experience in leadership and organizational development. I started Collective Growth Coaching and Consulting to partner with organizations to develop wildly practical and effective talent strategies. As a credentialed coach and certified in MBTI and Hogan assessments, my passion lies in unlocking potential and driving sustainable growth by helping individuals and teams thrive in today’s evolving business world.
It would be my honor to join you for a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to help solve a current challenge with wildly practical solutions or to meet with you one-on-one to chat and get to know you.
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