Meeting Mayhem: How Chiefs of Staff can turn chaos into outcomes in 2025
A prime focus for many Chiefs of Staff in 2025 is looking at how we can advance key initiatives and ensuring everyone is rowing in the same direction. At this time of the year, this includes planning off-sites and sales kick-offs but beware: these are extracurriculars! To achieve lasting alignment, start thinking about how you can put day-to-day rituals, such as internal meetings, to work to create a culture of progress and productivity.
Consider the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a trending management framework widely adopted by private equity firms and their portfolio companies that emphasizes the importance of structured meetings and clear communication to drive business growth. By adopting similar principles, Chiefs of Staff sitting at the intersection of strategy & execution, can transform our meetings from mundane routines into strategic tools that foster innovation and engagement.
The Power of Meetings
Meetings are more than just a time to discuss projects and updates; they are an opportunity to shape the culture of your organization. Meetings can be a catalyst for innovation, engagement, and business growth. However, left to manage unintentionally, meetings can kill every one of your OKRs.
Top 3 Hacks to Create a Culture of Preparedness
Set Clear Objectives PSA: Clarifying why you meet is substantially more important than any agenda template in your toolbox.
Expectation Setting. Ensure every participant is clear on what will be expected from them during the call. Leverage a thought-through specific agenda and assign roles to all participants.
Encourage Participation. Ensure only active participants are on the invite list. This creates a relevant, engaging discussion.
Top 3 Hacks to Maximize Meeting Effectiveness
Time Management: Start and end meetings on time. If you know people are scheduled back-to-back, set a start time of 10:05 am instead of the exact hour. This will avoid awkward wait times or delays.
Sharing is Caring: A smaller invite list should not create a feeling of FOMO or exclusivity. Instead, you want to set an example of trust and alignment by generously and broadly distributing meeting notes and decisions made with all stakeholders.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly solicit feedback on the effectiveness of your meetings. Use this feedback to make continuous improvements and conduct meeting audits.
Bonus: If your meetings are hitting the mark, you do not need a “No Meeting Friday.” Rethink meetings as a tool to achieve outcomes and collaborating effectively vs burning out your team.
Remember, the key to effective meetings is preparation, participation, and continuous improvement!
Authored by Kristy Hissa, General Manager of Kairos. With more than 1 in 3 meetings being a waste of time, Kairos enables organizations to create a competitive advantage by manifesting a culture of dynamic, results-oriented collaboration.
