Welcome to another episode of Lessons in Leadership. On today’s episode, Dave Anderson, leadership expert and founder of LearnToLead, continues his conversation, offering insights on conducting highly effective meetings. But this time, focusing on the second phase: executing the meeting.
Following thorough preparation in phase one, including:
- Circulating agendas
- Assigning roles
- Soliciting participant questions
Anderson says a structured approach during the meeting itself is key to success. Clearly define the roles in the meeting. Andereson notes that the meeting leader guides the discussion, the timekeeper keeps the session on schedule, and the ROC (Recorder of Commitments) documents the decisions and action items.
“Once you begin the meeting, make sure everyone knows it’s underway, then follow the agenda to maintain structure,” Anderson said. “Keeping the meeting on track allows you to move efficiently and sets the stage for meaningful follow-up.”
Further, Anderson emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for all attendees to contribute. Many participants, he said, are quiet but have valuable ideas. To ensure these voices are heard, he recommends ending meetings by going around the room conversationally, asking each person directly for input. He cautions against mechanical or perfunctory check-ins, noting that overly talkative participants can sometimes dominate discussions, leaving less vocal contributors unheard.
“If you set it up right by following the ideas that I shared in phase one, this should really be positioned for success.”
“Phase two is not just about running the meeting—it’s about making sure everyone has a chance to be heard,” Anderson said. “That engagement sets up phase three, the follow-up, which so often gets overlooked. Without it, meetings restart old issues without progress.”
Anderson also suggested reviewing the meeting’s flow afterward and making adjustments to improve engagement in future sessions.
