How To Set Effective Meeting Objectives

What are meeting objectives?

Meeting objectives refer to the specific goals or outcomes that a meeting aims to achieve. These are the central focus points that set the direction of the meeting and guide its discussions.

They can be based on a broad range of topics such as decision making, problem-solving, planning, coordination, or team building. Effective meetings should have clearly defined objectives to ensure that the time and effort invested are productive, and that every participant understands their role and the expected results. Meeting objectives also help to measure the success or effectiveness of the meeting.

How To Set Effective Meeting Objectives: Step-By-Step

Step 1: Determining the Purpose of the Meeting
Step 2: Defining the Expected Outcomes
Step 3: Selecting the Participants
Step 4: Setting the Meeting Agenda
Step 5: Allocating Roles and Responsibilities
Step 6: Preparing the Materials

Step 1: Determining the Purpose of the Meeting

This step involves clearly defining the necessity of the meeting. This includes pinpointing concrete objectives and goals, which could range from crafting a new strategy to promoting team-building.

Whether the intent is brainstorming innovative ideas, resolving critical decisions, conducting educational training, or building team cohesion, the purpose must be explicitly apparent for effective deliberation and participation.

Next Step

Step 2: Defining the Expected Outcomes

This step involves establishing a precise expectation for meeting outcomes. Whether it’s reaching a key decision, generating innovative ideas, devising a tactical plan, comprehending challenging issues, or more. The aim is to ensure productive sessions where tangible results are achieved and progress is visibly marked.

Next Step

Step 3: Selecting the Participants

This refers to the process of discerning the essential individuals needed in a meeting to attain predetermined outcomes. This involves carefully selecting participants who can contribute invaluable insights, information, and sanction crucial decisions, thereby driving the meeting in the intended direction.

Recommendation

Have you tried our Meeting Notes Software, yet?

Want to run a better meeting? Try ZipDo, our Meeting Note Software.

Connect your Google Calendar
Automatically create a note for every meeting
Organize your meetings and meeting notes in a channel like Slack

Try ZipDo free

Next Step

Step 4: Setting the Meeting Agenda

This step delves into the design and structure of the meeting. It involves the careful selection and prioritization of discussion topics aligned with the meeting’s purpose and projected outcomes. Time estimation for each topic is crucial to maintain focus and efficiency. Ultimately, the meeting agenda ensures a roadmap towards achieving desired objectives.

The meeting agenda should be sent to all participants before the meeting so that everyone can prepare well for the meeting.

Here you will learn how to create the perfect meeting agenda.

With our meeting notes app ZipDo, a collaborative editor is automatically created for each meeting, where all participants can add their points to the meeting agenda. This is the easiest way for us to collaboratively prepare for a meeting.

Next Step

Step 5: Allocating Roles and Responsibilities

In this phase, indispensable tasks must be allocated among participants; determining who will lead discussions, facilitate conversation, record important points, or monitor time spent on topics. Not only does this promote efficient meeting management, it also establishes individual responsibility and encourages active involvement from all participants.

Next Step

Step 6: Preparing the Materials

This entails assembling or creating necessary documents, slide presentations, reports, or any other essential materials in advance. These resources are pivotal to equip participants with the requisite insight, facilitate comprehensive discussion, and ultimately achieve the predefined goals of the meeting effectively.

Conclusion

In sum, crafting effective meeting objectives is a crucial step towards successful, productive meetings. By setting clear, realistic, and measurable objectives, you not only align everyone’s focus but also facilitate meaningful discussion and decision-making. Remember, the objective of the meeting should serve as the compass that steers all participants towards a common direction.

Therefore, take the necessary time to plan, be specific with your goals, encourage participant engagement, and monitor your progress. Indeed, the real measure of a successful meeting lies not in its duration, but in its ability to accomplish the set objectives.

Jannik Lindner

I'm Jannik and I write on MeetingFever about the experiences from my career as a founder and team lead.

If you have any questions, please contact me via LinkedIn.

→ Save Your Spot! Our Free Webinar: Reduce org-wide meeting time and increase your productivity. Sign Up now ←

What are meeting objectives?

How To Set Effective Meeting Objectives: Step-By-Step