What Is the Purpose of the Meeting?

September 14, 2023
11:46 am

There’s a saying in the business world that “meetings are where minutes are kept and hours are lost.” But when done correctly, meetings can be one of the most productive aspects of an organization. So, what really is the purpose of the meeting? Let’s dive into the real reasons, benefits, and best practices for meetings to maximize their potential.

Understanding the Significance of Meetings

Before we jump into the reasons to have a meeting, it’s important to understand the underlying significance of meetings.

Communication Channel: Meetings provide a platform for members to communicate, exchange information, and establish a shared understanding. A study by MIT found that face-to-face communication is significantly more effective than other forms of communication.
Decision-Making: In his renowned book, “High Output Management”, Andrew S. Grove emphasizes the importance of meetings as a medium for decision-making. It’s where diverse perspectives come together to form a holistic view.
Building Relationships: Meetings help in building interpersonal relationships. They enable team members to connect, understand each other’s perspectives, and work harmoniously.

Primary Purposes for Holding a Meeting

So, what should drive you to call for a meeting? Here are some fundamental reasons:

Information Sharing: To disseminate information to a group or to get input from several members.
Problem Solving: When there’s a challenge that requires collective brainstorming.
Planning: Mapping out future actions and strategies.
Reviewing: Going over past actions to determine their outcomes.
Team Building: Strengthening team dynamics and interpersonal relationships.

However, calling a meeting for any of the above reasons without a clear agenda is a recipe for inefficiency.

Crafting a Clear Agenda

A clear agenda is the backbone of a successful meeting. Here are some steps to craft one:

Define the Objective: Every meeting must have a clear and defined objective. Ask yourself, “What should be different after this meeting?”
List Topics to Be Covered: Use bullet points to outline what needs to be discussed.
Allocate Time for Each Topic: This ensures you cover everything without overrunning.
Designate a Moderator: Someone who keeps the meeting on track.
Send the Agenda in Advance: This gives attendees the chance to prepare. A Harvard Business Review article emphasized the importance of sending the agenda ahead of time to increase meeting productivity.

Best Practices for Effective Meetings

To extract maximum value from meetings, follow these best practices:

Start and End on Time: Respect everyone’s time.
Avoid Multi-tasking: Encourage members to be present both mentally and physically.
Engage Everyone: Everyone should have a role in the meeting. This keeps attendees invested.
Keep it Short: As per the Pareto Principle, 80% of the value of a meeting comes from 20% of the content. Keep meetings concise.
Document Decisions: Always have a note-taker. Documenting decisions ensures accountability and clarity.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Meetings can easily become ineffective. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for:

Lack of Clear Objective: As mentioned earlier, always have a clear purpose.
Too Many Attendees: Invite only necessary stakeholders. Remember the two-pizza rule by Jeff Bezos: If two pizzas aren’t enough to feed everyone, there are too many people.
Lack of Preparation: Unprepared attendees can derail meetings. Always send necessary materials in advance.

In Conclusion: What Is the Purpose of the Meeting?

Meetings have gained a notorious reputation, but that doesn’t mean they’re inherently ineffective. When done with purpose and preparation, they can be indispensable tools in the workings of an organization. So, the next time you’re about to click that “Schedule Meeting” button, take a moment to reflect on the genuine purpose of the meeting and ensure it will be time well spent for everyone involved.