Why Do Meetings Start Late, Drag on Forever, and Fail to Accomplish Anything?

Published: Jan 24, 2019
Modified: Mar 24, 2020

By AMA Staff

Here are some ground rules to ensure meetings run smoothly.

  • All meetings will begin and end on schedule.
  • The position of chair will be rotated.
  • Discussion time will be limited to that set on the agenda.
  • Meetings will be held every second Tuesday, from 9:15 to 11:00 a.m., in the conference room.
  • Three days prior to the meeting, members will receive a copy of the agenda and any handouts to read and come prepared for the discussion.
  • The focus will be on issues, not personalities.
  • Only one member will talk at a time.
  • Decisions will be made by consensus.
  • The group will evaluate each meeting to determine progress toward its objective and the quality of the meeting itself.

About the Author(s)

AMA Staff American Management Association is a world leader in professional development, advancing the skills of individuals to drive business success. AMA’s approach to improving performance combines experiential learning—“learning through doing”—with opportunities for ongoing professional growth at every step of one’s career journey. AMA supports the goals of individuals and organizations through a complete range of products and services, including seminars, Webcasts and podcasts, conferences, corporate and government solutions, business books and research.