Let’s Get Real, Meetings Suck.

I’ve been a founder and CEO for nearly 20 years, have been in more meetings than I’d like to admit, and have read countless books on management and leadership.

My conclusion? Most meetings are a waste of time and money.

BUT there are 3 meetings that you do need. No startup should operate without them (make sure you note this down).

Why Meetings are Mostly a Waste of Time and Money

Meetings are notorious time-suckers. They’re often where productivity goes to die and are one reason productivity is falling in companies worldwide (see this study if you don’t believe me). 32% of people think most meetings could have been an email, although it feels way higher in reality.

Meetings are notorious culture killers in larger corporations. Think of the movie Office Space.

But more and more, I’m seeing leaders overuse business meetings as a form of communication and decision-making. And virtual environments seem to be even worse. 

Here’s why they waste so much 🕜 and 💸: 

Lack of Defined Objectives

The curse of most meetings is that they lack a clear goal. People arrive with different expectations, and the meeting drifts towards the loudest voice in the room rather than what needs to be achieved. 

To make matters worse, they can drag on and on without a specific agenda. This sucks up valuable time that could be spent on direct, outcome-oriented work. 

The Domino Effect of Disruption

But the cost here isn’t just the hours wasted in the actual meeting – it’s the interruption to the day (the before and after) that really hurts.  

Research indicates that it takes 23 minutes on average to return to the original task after an interruption. For a team of 10, that’s over 3 hours of lost productivity for just one meeting – that’s context-switching for you. 

The Hidden Costs Add Up

Every meeting has a price tag – and it’s high. If you tally up the hourly wages of all attendees, it’s usually in the thousands of dollars per meeting. Now, consider the output of the meeting – was there a decision made that justified that expense? The answer’s usually no. 

This is terrible for startups and small businesses where lean operation is key to survival. 

The traditional meeting culture needs a revamp. Otherwise, you’re just bleeding away employee well-being and your bottom line. 

The 3 Meetings You DO Need

Not all meetings are bad. 

Group meetings (physical or virtual) can be extremely high-leverage if the audience and content are correct. I’ve seen these 3 meetings work wonders👇

1. All-Hands Meeting

All-hands is your most important meeting–the drumbeat and the rhythm that keep the company marching to the same tune. It’s your chance to reinforce the company’s mission and values. 

But I see CEOs & founders treat the all-hands meeting like an afterthought. They come ill-prepared and get 1/100th the impact they could have. Don’t waste it!

Who:
Everyone on the team should be there (no one should miss out).

Why:
It aligns the entire team on purpose, direction, and progress (PDP). 

When: 
For Smaller teams (under 50 people): Monthly for 60-90 minutes. For Larger teams (over 50 people): Quarterly for 90-120 minutes. 

Agenda:
Always include the following:

• Where you’re going: Find ways to talk about the longer-term vision & goals
• How you’re doing: Progress against monthly, quarterly & annual goals
• Why it matters: Share a customer story to show your impact or showcase a team member demonstrating your values. This energizes everyone on the collective purpose

The goal of the all-hands meeting is to provide clarity and create positive momentum. You reiterate goals, celebrate wins, dissect losses, and broadcast the broader vision. It’s the campfire where your company culture warms and bonds.

I wrote more about crafting a killer all-hands agenda here.

2. Top Goals Meeting

I call this a ‘top-goals’ meeting to reiterate what the content should focus on. However, this meeting is equivalent to a recurring leadership or team meeting. But pay close attention to the structure and agenda – it matters a lot! 

The point of the meeting is to review progress against your annual goals (have 3 MAX!). Too many leadership meetings go by without a thorough inspection of progress. Then the quarter ends, someone misses their targets, and everyone is surprised. This is not good. 

Who:
Leadership team and/or key people responsible for your top 3 team or company-wide goals. 

Why:
Tracks progress against your top 3 most important items

When:
Weekly (60 minutes) or bi-weekly (90 minutes)

I prefer bi-weekly with a brief Slack or email-based update during the off week. 

Agenda: 
Spend time on each goal. The purpose is to track:

• How you’re doing: Each goal should have one principal “owner” that leads the update to the group
• If you’re behind: Create a plan (right in the meeting, don’t wait) to get back on track
• If you’re ahead: Talk about upcoming risks and how to mitigate them early (or just end the meeting early 🙂)

Top Goals Meetings are your status checkers – without them, you’re navigating blind with no way to track your progress. 

3. One-on-One (1×1) Meeting

The most underestimated tool in a leader’s kit – the humble 1×1. A meeting with each person on your team. If you have a large team, it’s only with your direct reports. 

Who:
Just you and the person

Why:
Tracks progress against individual goals and offers tailored help. They also help you to build deeper relationships or discuss more detailed feedback.

When:
Every other week. Keep it to 60 minutes. 

Sometimes, I do weekly (instead of every other week), but only in two scenarios:

1. The person is new – I’ll do weekly 1x1s for the first 3 months. 
2. The person is struggling – if a person isn’t hitting their goals on a consistent basis, I move the 1×1 cadence from bi-weekly to weekly. This way, I can stay closer to the issues and help unblock them. Once things are back on track, I move the 1×1 back to every other week. 

Agenda:
In these meetings, cover:

• How you’re doing: The person should start by giving an update on their goals
• If they’re behind: Offer help. Create a plan together to get back on track
• If they’re on pace: Use the time for other items, but let the person set the agenda

These are where you tune into the individual frequencies of your team. Here, you’re not the boss; you’re the coach, the mentor, the support. These meetings are where potential is nurtured and challenges are tackled head-on. 

3 Rules to Crush Each Meeting

Now that you know the 3 meetings you need to really nail, let’s hit three rules to maximize their effectiveness: 

Rule 1: Be Prepared, Not Just Present

Preparation isn’t just about having an agenda. It’s about having the RIGHT one. Craft it with purpose. Are you deciding, brainstorming, updating, or solving?

• For decisions, bring options and recommendations to the table
• For brainstorming, circulate a topic list beforehand to simmer ideas
• For updates, require succinct progress summaries and future targets
• For problem-solving, lay out the issue and invite potential solutions

Rule 2: Encourage Deep Participation

A meeting is a symphony, not a solo. Make sure everyone’s voice is heard, and don’t dominate the conversation.

• Consider rotating roles, like note-taking, to keep everyone engaged
• Assign a devil’s advocate to challenge the status quo
• Use interactive tools – polls, breakout rooms – to democratize the dialogue
• Assign action items – everyone should leave with a mission

Rule 3: Have a Bias for Action

Action is the endgame of any meeting. Meetings should always finish with a clear call to action.

• Set clear goals, delegate tasks, and agree on deadlines
• Follow up with a summary and next steps within a day
• Leverage tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion to keep a tab on progress

Meetings should be the launchpads of action, not black holes of time. And remember to always end on a high note!

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Meetings don’t have to be the bane of your company’s existence. With the right types and rules, they can be your powerhouse!

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How I can help you… 

Are you a founder, executive, or manager? I’d love to support your professional growth. 

Here are three ways: 

1. Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram – where I post practical tips about leadership and startups every day.

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