How to Make Faster Decisions in Meetings

I've discovered that the essence of productive meetings isn't in lengthy discussions, but pre-preparation before the meeting to focus on decisions, and less on lengthy debates. 85% of your discussions should be done Async and only do meetings on strategy, decisions, and key debates/disagreements. Here is what I learnt from working with Japanese executives:  Pre-Meeting: - Try and send materials, from reports to agenda, at least 48 hours ahead. This primes everyone for the discussions ahead. - Clearly state the decisions that need to be made or outcomes that need to be achieved. It's about directing focus right where it's needed. - Invite meeting participants to share their thoughts or questions beforehand, cutting down clarification time during the actual meeting. In the Meeting: - Start with a 5-minute summary, not a lengthy reintroduction. - Discussions are centered around key points and decisions. - Keeping discussions time-boxed is non-negotiable. After the Meeting: - Lay out decisions, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines. I'm curious to hear from you – how have you run your meetings to make them productive? Image credit: Tom FishBurne Marketoonist

Forget agendas and pre-reads, do this instead: 1. Put together a short page (3-4 min read time) that outlines a key idea or decision 2. Spend the first few minutes of the meeting reviewing the page 3. Now that everyone has full context, make key decisions or solve the problem at hand 4. Document decisions or next steps in the page for visibility Instead of asking people to do pre-work only to experience a 20-minute verbal rehash, this approach gets everyone on the same page quickly, leaving the majority of the meeting free to * do the work together. * When people take the steps listed above, our research shows they find meetings 23% less frustrating and 22% more useful. My team uses this method in our weekly team meetings, more below ⬇️

Ever been in a meeting that feels like a hamster wheel of indecision? The same points circling endlessly, everyone is tired but no conclusion in sight? Decision paralysis costs organizations dearly—not just in wasted meeting time, but in missed opportunities and team burnout. After studying teams for years, I've noticed that most decision stalls happen for predictable reasons: • Unclear decision-making process (Who actually decides? By when?) • Hidden disagreements that never surface • Fear of making the wrong choice • Insufficient information • No one feeling authorized to move forward    The solution isn't mysterious, but it requires intention. Here's what you can do: First, name the moment. Simply stating, "I notice we're having trouble making a decision here" can shift the energy. This small act of leadership acknowledges the struggle and creates space to address it. Second, clarify the decision type using these levels: • Who has final authority? (One person decides after input) • Is this a group decision requiring consensus? • Does it require unanimous agreement? • Is it actually a collection of smaller decisions we're bundling together?    Third, establish decision criteria before evaluating options. Ask: "What makes a good solution in this case?" This prevents the common trap of judging ideas against unstated or contradictory standards. Fourth, set a timeline. Complex decisions deserve adequate consideration, but every decision needs a deadline. One team I worked with was stuck for weeks on a resource allocation issue. We discovered half the team thought their leader wanted full consensus while she assumed they understood she'd make the final call after hearing everyone's input. This simple misunderstanding had cost them weeks of productivity. After implementing these steps, they established a clear practice: Every decision discussion began with explicitly stating what kind of decision it was, who would make it, and by when. Within a month, their decision-making improved dramatically. More importantly, team members reported feeling both more heard and less burdened by decision fatigue. Remember: The goal isn't making perfect decisions but making timely, informed ones that everyone understands how to implement. What's your go-to approach when team decisions get stuck? Share your decision-making wisdom. P.S. If you’re a leader, I recommend checking out my free challenge: The Resilient Leader: 28 Days to Thrive in Uncertainty  https://lnkd.in/gxBnKQ8n

More time doesn't lead to better decisions. It leads to more wasted time. Ever heard of Parkinson's Law? It's the idea that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. We often believe that more time equals better decisions, but in reality, it creates unnecessary delays. Yesterday, I was in a meeting with a big decision on the table. We had 3 minutes left, and someone suggested scheduling another meeting. I asked, "Why not decide now? We have all the information we need." In 2 minutes, the decision was made. Done. Moving forward. The lesson? We don't need as much time as we think. Indecision costs more than a wrong decision because it keeps you stuck. Here's how you can decide faster: 1. Gather facts quickly: ↳ Have 70-80% of the info. ↳ Trust it. 2. Challenge overthinking: ↳ No decision is perfect. ↳ Make the best call with what you have. 3. Learn through action: ↳ Create momentum. ↳ Adjust as needed. Next time you're on the fence, challenge your thinking. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can achieve results when you stop giving tasks more time than they need. Because action always beats inaction. Follow me for more daily insights on propelling your business and leadership forward.