Google CEO Larry Page required four things of every meeting in his company.
This happened because:
“These rules sound like common sense, but they often disappear as companies get large and people call meetings more for political or ego-boosting reasons than to actually get anything done.”
1. Every meeting must have one clear decision maker. If there’s no decision maker — or no decision to be made — the meeting shouldn’t happen
2. No more than 10 people should attend.
3. Every person should give input, otherwise they shouldn’t be there.
4. No decision should ever wait for a meeting. If a meeting absolutely has to happen before a decision should be made, then the meeting should be scheduled immediately.
I loved #4. Large organizations can produce a culture of over-inclusiveness. The number of decisions a team makes provides an insightful glimpse into their effectiveness. I try to stay away from projects or teams that have a track record of few decisions.