We all have those recurring meetings that feel inefficient, unproductive, or aimless. How can you make them better when you’re not the one running them? Here’s how to get involved before, during, and after to nudge things in the right direction.
 
The best time to intervene is often before the meeting even takes place. Reach out to the organizer to ask if there’s an agenda, relevant materials they can share in advance, or anything you can do to help prepare. During a meeting that’s veering off topic, you can take initiative and steer the conversation back on course. Refer back to the agenda if there is one. If there isn’t one, you can speak up to clarify the goal of the meeting, then point out when the conversation feels off topic.
 
After the meeting, reach out to the organizer to compare notes and clarify next steps and who’s responsible for them. This will ensure follow-through—and that the meeting wasn’t ultimately pointless.
This tip is adapted from “How to Improve a Meeting (When You’re Not in Charge),” by Tijs Besieux and Amy C. Edmondson