In today’s hybrid work environment, leaders are under pressure to make meetings more efficient, engaging, and outcome-driven. In a recent masterclass hosted by Beth O’Neill and Beth Yates from Interaction Associates, we explored three facilitation habits that can dramatically improve how meetings run and what they accomplish.
Here’s a practical summary of those habits, with highlights you can apply today. You can also watch the full recording here.
“If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you’ve arrived?”
Why it matters: Most meetings start with agendas. Few start with outcomes—what you want people to leave with. This habit shifts your focus from “what are we doing?” to “what are we accomplishing?”
Tip: Before your next meeting, answer this:
What do I want people to know by the end?
What do I want them to feel?
What do I want them to do next?
“People are more open to your ideas when they feel heard first.”
Why it matters: As meetings grow more complex—especially in hybrid formats—participants need to feel seen and respected. Listening as an ally means hearing with the intent to understand, not to reply or fix.
Tip: Use these phrases to show ally-style listening:
“Tell me more about what you’re seeing.”
“How does that connect to your experience?”
“What feels most important about that for you?”
“A meeting without action is just a conversation.”
Why it matters: Clarity is currency. Meetings often lose impact at the end, when energy dips and ownership gets fuzzy. A clear close aligns people on what’s next—and who’s doing what.
Tip: Use this 3-part check before ending:
What decisions did we make?
What are the next steps?
Who’s responsible—and by when?
These three habits—defining outcomes, listening as an ally, and closing with clarity—are deceptively simple. But used consistently, they build trust, boost alignment, and help teams do their best thinking together.
For leaders navigating constant change, these habits aren’t just tactical—they’re transformational.
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