Top Tip!
Agendas should generally be short documents, ideally no more than one page.
However, a brief explanatory note of every item, including what is likely to be discussed and what is out of scope, will help attendees to prepare better and support the chair in controlling the meeting.
Breaks in the Agenda
Some meetings, for example, formal board meetings, or awaydays, may go on all day, or even over more than one day.
The agendas for such meetings will obviously need to include breaks, usually at least one break in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as a lunch break.
However, even a shorter meeting may benefit from one or more scheduled breaks. These offer the opportunity for discussion between two or more participants outside the main meeting, and also allow a meeting to get back on track if one or more item has taken more time than expected.
Making Meetings More Productive
A good agenda ensures that the discussion flows but is focused, the meeting achieves its aim, and that it is a productive use of attendees’ time.
Taking the time to prepare an agenda will be time well spent. It will also demonstrate to your attendees that you value their time as much you value your own. The effort will also pay off further down the line: when people get to know that your meetings run well and achieve their aims, they will be more likely to attend them in future.