Put the most essential points of the meeting in the right place on the agenda
Datum: 2025-12-10 08:27
It is crucial to get the right things done at meetings. Nobody is particularly fond of meetings dragging on, where the participants talk over each other and nothing concrete is accomplished.
There is a place for the most critical points
Therefore, we make meetings as effective and efficient as possible. A meeting component that can be experimented with is the agenda, specifically in which order the meeting points are arranged.
For you who prefer listening to reading, this post is also available as an episode of the ""Done!"" podcast:
In the middle
In the study” An experimental investigation of the interpersonal ramifications of lateness to workplace meetings”, Mroz and Allen from the University of Nebraska Omaha suggest that the most important points of the meeting should preferably be placed in the middle of the agenda so that the meeting leader can start the meeting on time, with some less critical points, even if a decisive participant has been late and has not yet arrived.
First, instead
On the other hand, one of my clients in Uppsala had excellent experiences with putting the most important points first — decision points, in his case — and discussion points last.
Why the contradictory advice?
Why do they recommend such contradictory steps? Well, because they had different problems to solve. Mroz and Allen’s concern was that the participants in the meeting forum often arrived late due to uncontrollable factors and that the other participants had to sit and twiddle their thumbs before the meeting could begin.
On the other hand, my Uppsala-based client’s problem was that the discussion points quickly swelled in time so much that they often had to postpone the remaining decision points they hadn’t done during the meeting to the next meeting — over and over again.
I can also imagine a situation where the best thing is to put the essential points last if the meeting participants drop off before the meeting is over when the points they found most interesting have been completed.
As usual, you must tailor the remedy to the unique situation. The idea I want to send you is that the placement of the most essential points of the meeting is a tool you can use to make your meetings the best you’ve ever experienced.
Do this
Do you recognize yourself in your meetings only sometimes being as effective as you would like?
Think about whether a move of the most essential points of the meeting would make them better. Put the points first, last, in the middle or perhaps even here and there (so that it heats up regularly and the participants don’t have time to get bored).
Test your trick at the next meeting and adjust as needed.
Meetings to satisfaction
If you find the best place in the agenda for the most important meeting points for your needs, the meetings will be more effective than before. The meetings accomplish more of what they should and you use your precious time better.
What do you do?
Where do you usually place the most critical points of the meeting in the agenda and why? Please write to me and share!
(How are meetings scheduled at your workplace? Have you tried having internal meetings on fixed days?
Do you want even more ideas?
If you want more tips on how to create good structure at work, there are many ways to get that from me - in podcasts, videos, books, talks and other formats.
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