1. Make sure everyone is clear about the meeting time and location.


2. If you are the one hosting the meeting, show up. Woody Allen has a quote, “80% of success is showing up.” If you’re the one calling the shots, and you’re not there - what’s everyone else meant to do?


3. Be on time. You’ve scheduled the meeting for a certain time, and everyone has allocated that time in their diaries. Something comes up at last minute? Unless it’s a real, unforeseen emergency which you had absolutely no control over, who cares? Think of everyone else. I’m sure they could have all thought of other things to do to occupy the time they spent waiting for you. Your being there makes a difference.


4. Always have an agenda. Plan out what you want to go on in the meeting, and what you want to get out of the meeting, otherwise, the meeting turns into conversations with no outcomes. People can have conversations with their friends - they don’t need to go to meetings for that. People go to your meetings because they’re inspired by your project, your vision, what they can get out of it, what they can contribute towards it, and because they want to cause something with you.


5. Have an end time. That way, people can have and plan a life outside of your meeting. Also, it’s so you don’t feel disheartened if 50 people come to your meeting initially, then filter out slowly until you’re left with 3 people at the end, and you’re left trying desperately to find a way to end the meeting (politely). Be straight about when you want people to be there, what you want them to do and when you want them to leave. That way, people know and are conscious of the deadline for achieving results in the meeting.


6. End on time. Even if you don’t have anything planned after your meeting, keep in mind other people might. Let people know beforehand if you’ve planned anything that involves them after the meeting. Otherwise, let people know when the meeting officially ends so that they feel free to leave without having missed anything important and so they don’t feel rude about leaving on time.


7. Take notes. If you say you’re going to do stuff, write it down so you don’t forget. That way, you won’t get a shock when you get an email asking you for your part of the project.


8. Fulfil on all your agenda items and come to a conclusion on everything. Remember, that was the point of you having the meeting in the first place. Don’t loiter around in indecision - weigh up all the choices, and if it’s not life-altering, come to a conclusion.


9. Decide on next actions. Allocate tasks to everyone. It makes them feel useful and a part of the project. Best way for people to really take on ownership of the project.


10. If it’s not essential, don’t hold a meeting.