There is a new product that purports to make meetings more effective. The product will take notes, identify key topics, count the number of words each person says, and lets you know who’s not paying attention. If this software sounds useful, then your problems likely go beyond the quality of your meetings.

Meetings can be a useful activity in which a group of people does meaningful work. If the meeting isn’t meaningful, then cancel the meeting. Before the meeting starts, be sure you are clear on the meeting’s purpose and know the outcomes that’ll make the meeting valuable. Only invite people who have a role to play in the meeting, and invite people to leave if there’s no value in them being there.

Let’s stop trying to put bandaids on the problems with meetings and start truly fixing the problems. It’s what leaders do.

You’ve got this.