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Meeting Agenda Dos Donts: What You Need to Know

The Importance of a Meeting Agenda

When it comes to effective meetings, having an agenda is essential. Without an agenda, meetings can become unfocused, disorganized and a waste of everyone’s time. An agenda provides structure and direction to a meeting, helping to keep everyone on track and focused. A meeting agenda also helps to ensure that everyone is clear on the goals of the meeting and the topics to be covered.

Dos and Don’ts for Creating a Meeting Agenda

Creating an effective meeting agenda takes careful thought and preparation. Here are some dos and don’ts for creating an effective meeting agenda.

Do:

• Identify the purpose of the meeting.
• Include an introduction.
• Outline the topics to discuss.
• List the expected outcomes.
• Include times for each topic.
• Allow time for questions and feedback.
• Include a conclusion.

Don’t:

• Include too many topics.
• Leave out important points.
• Forget to specify the time frame.
• Neglect to communicate the agenda before the meeting.
• Forget to include all the participants.

3 Sample Meeting Agenda Dos Donts

Here are three sample meeting agendas that you can use as a starting point for creating your own meeting agendas.

1. Meeting Agenda for a Departmental Meeting

• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Review of Last Meeting’s Minutes (10 minutes)
• Discussion of Upcoming Projects (20 minutes)
• Budget and Expense Report (15 minutes)
• Questions and Feedback (15 minutes)
• Conclusion (5 minutes)

2. Meeting Agenda for a Brainstorming Session

• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Presentation of Topic (10 minutes)
• Brainstorming and Discussion (30 minutes)
• Questions and Feedback (15 minutes)
• Conclusion (5 minutes)

3. Meeting Agenda for a Business Review

• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Review of Last Quarter’s Results (20 minutes)
• Discussion of New Strategies (20 minutes)
• Questions and Feedback (15 minutes)
• Conclusion (5 minutes)

Conclusion

Creating an effective meeting agenda can help to ensure that meetings are successful, productive and well-organized. By following the dos and don’ts for creating an effective meeting agenda, you can ensure that your meetings are as productive and focused as possible.