🌴268. Why ‘Why Am I Here?’ Is the Best Meeting Question

If you’ve ever thought, “This meeting could have been an email”… today’s episode is for you.I’m sharing why agendas aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re the thing that keeps meetings short, sharp, and actually useful. I’ll take you behind the scenes of some 25-minute listening tour calls I’ve been running, and how a 10-minute pre-email with sample questions changed the whole dynamic.We’ll also talk about David Grady’s hilarious TED Talk on Meeting Acceptance Syndrome (yes, it’s a real thing) and why clicking Tentative instead of Accept might be the simplest culture shift you can make.Key takeaways from this episode:Why most meetings go overtime (hint: zero direction)The magic of sending a short pre-agenda emailHow to influence meeting culture from wherever you sit in the hierarchyMy two-stage approach to stakeholder meetings that actually saves time🔗 I’ll pop the TED Talk link in the notes: How to Save the World (or at Least Yourself) from Bad Meetings by David Grady.Thanks for tuning in — and remember, great meetings don’t happen by accident.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.