Hosting Effective Meetings
 
A practical guide to running meetings that actually move work forward
 
Too many meetings consume time without producing decisions, clarity, or momentum. This practical guide from Kate Lisofsky provides a clear framework for planning, facilitating, and closing meetings in a way that drives real outcomes.
 
Inside this guide, you'll learn how to determine when a meeting is actually necessary, how to structure the conversation around a clear purpose, and how to ensure every participant understands their role and expected contribution. It also walks through the different types of meetings, such as decision, discussion, and informational, along with how to run each effectively.
 
The guide includes practical techniques for:
 
Defining clear objectives and agendas before the meeting begins
Ensuring the right participants are present (and avoiding unnecessary attendees)
Encouraging diverse viewpoints while preventing groupthink
Driving clear decisions, commitments, and follow-up actions
Ending meetings with accountability and documented next steps
 
You'll also find a simple step-by-step structure for running the meeting itself from opening check-ins, to productive discussion, to confirming responsibilities and distributing notes afterward.
 
The result is a repeatable approach to meetings that create alignment, speed decisions, and move work forward, without wasting everyone’s time.