How to Make Meetings Not Suck: Tips and Tools to Run Effective Meetings

A 2014 Harris Poll of over 2,000 people found that nearly half would prefer unpleasant activities like visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles to attending a project status meeting. A Salary.com survey identified "too many meetings" as the number one office time-waster for 47% of respondents. One analysis estimates that meetings cost the US economy $1.4 trillion annually, roughly 10% of GDP. With fifty-five million meetings occurring daily in the US, many of them inefficient, this book serves as a practical guide for managers and leaders seeking to maximize the effectiveness of time spent with teams and colleagues. The book addresses seven meeting types: status meetings, tactical meetings, strategic planning meetings, problem-solving meetings, project team meetings, informational meetings, and social connection meetings. It provides step-by-step guides on various techniques, focusing on mindset, skillset, and toolset for running meetings. The authors are facilitators at the Center for Creative Leadership, where they work with senior executives. They have consulted with teams and executives at Subaru, T. Rowe Price, NASA, National Grid, and the US Joint Special Forces University.