May 13, 2026
Great leadership does not happen in isolation—no matter the industry, you should see yourself as part of a team. And while teamwork is a beautiful thing, working with a group of people guarantees one thing: you will have meetings. As a business leader, you will undoubtedly be called upon to organize and run meetings regularly. Each of these meetings is a chance for you to shine in front of your peers and maybe even your boss. My advice: don’t waste the opportunity. Follow these ground rules and leave waste-of-time meetings in the past.
- Prioritize an Agenda – Prepare a written agenda as far ahead of time as is reasonable and be sure to list clear time boundaries next to each topic. Consider this your first draft and then circulate the document to key participants. Request their input on the topics and their time allotments and adjust as appropriate. By giving yourself ample time for this process, you can kick-off your meeting with the confidence that you are concentrating on the right things.
- Prepare the Venue – Though this may sound simple, I have seen several meetings go off-the-rails just because their venue was not in order. Make sure your meeting space is set with the correct number of chairs, necessary materials for discussion, and whatever refreshments you plan to provide. On the day of your meeting, arrive early and make sure any technological tools you plan to use are in good, working order. If you start late because your computer needs an update, you will not be dealing with a happy crowd.
- Watch the Clock – As the leader of the meeting, you have an obligation to see that the agenda proceeds as planned. This includes beginning the meeting on time! At Tractor Supply Company, my team could expect that a 9am meeting would start at 9am and not a minute later. Respect the time of those around you by doing all you can to keep the conversation on topic and on schedule.
- Keep it Moving — If your discussion becomes bogged down in minutiae, jump in to summarize what you have heard up to that point. This should help your group zoom out and recall why you are all having this conversation in the first place. If redirection does not help, leaders should not be afraid to conclude the topic. It is up to you to keep things moving.
- Give ‘Em a Break — If your meeting lasts more than two hours, it is wise to provide a short break. As an added benefit, break time creates an opportunity for you to provide coaching to your teammates as needed. Don’t miss this chance to enhance the overall quality of your meeting.
- Summarize the Work — Bring the meeting to conclusion by summarizing the discussion and reiterating whatever conclusions have been reached. If follow-up is required, be sure responsibilities are clearly delegated. If you’ve managed to finish a few minutes early, give yourself a pat on the back!
If the idea of “taking charge” makes you feel a little uncomfortable, give yourself a break and remember that these tips will become second nature with time and practice. In the long run, when you take charge and demonstrate your respect for the time and energy of others, they will respect you, too.
published Nashville Business Journal
