Good time management helps make meetings effective and keeps participants focused. A meeting leader's role goes beyond being an "agenda police". They need to guide discussions and maintain momentum throughout the session.

Essential time management approaches include:

• Purpose stating: Being specific about what needs to be decided, reviewed, or accomplished. Avoid vague goals like "exploring" or "addressing" issues
• Point preparation: Creating key discussion points before the meeting, not just agenda topics, including ideas to raise and challenges to address
• Discussion guiding: Using clear previews and transitions like "The second thing I want to suggest" to help people follow the flow
• Detour handling: Keeping off-topic discussions brief by quickly returning to the main point when conversations drift
• Action planning: Closing with specific next steps, including who's responsible and when tasks should be completed

Different meeting moments need different approaches. Sometimes you need to guide the conversation firmly, other times step back and listen. The key is maintaining momentum while ensuring everyone can contribute meaningfully.^[1]