Meeting Prep
Re-read the agenda, write your notes and questions, and arrive a few minutes early.
3 time blocks, 20 minutes in total.
Time blocks
- Re-read the agenda: 5 min
Know the outcome the meeting needs to reach - Notes & questions: 10 min
Write your points and the questions you will ask - Arrive early: 5 min
Join early, check audio, settle before it starts
About this routine
A meeting prep routine takes 20 minutes and saves most of the meeting. This one re reads the agenda, writes your points, and gets you into the room early.
The first 5 minutes are for the agenda, specifically for working out what outcome the meeting has to reach. Then 10 minutes writing your notes and the questions you intend to ask, which is the difference between contributing and reacting.
The last 5 minutes are for arriving early, checking audio and settling before it starts. It sounds minor and it is the step people skip most. Run it as a routine timer in the slot before the meeting and it happens.
Why this routine works
- Clarifies what the meeting actually has to decide
- Replaces reacting with prepared questions
- Avoids opening the meeting with audio problems
- Fits into the gap before the meeting starts
FAQ
How do you prepare for a meeting?
Read the agenda for the outcome it needs to reach, write your points and questions, and join early enough to settle. That takes about 20 minutes.
How long before a meeting should you prepare?
20 minutes is enough for most meetings, with 10 of those spent writing your notes and questions.
Why join a meeting early?
It gives you time to check audio and settle, so the meeting starts on the agenda instead of on troubleshooting.