Let’s be real: Most people don’t love meetings. In education, like many other professions, meetings often feel more frequent than necessary. But while you may not have much control over how often they occur or how well they’re run, there are things you can do to make them work better for you. Here are four suggestions:

1. Review Objectives in Advance
2. Stay Organized Your Way
3. Come Prepared With Two or Three Questions or Comments
4. Don’t Be That Person—Read the Room

1. Review Objectives in Advance

The first step is to look at the meeting objectives ahead of time. People who run effective meetings usually understand the importance of being organized—they’ll often send out an agenda or a reminder in advance. When that happens, don’t just skim it as you’re rushing in (even though we all do that sometimes!).

Instead, take a few minutes beforehand to review the goals of the meeting. Doing this allows you to prepare thoughtful questions or input that directly align with the objectives. It also positions you to speak up confidently—especially when the meeting starts to veer off track, which, let’s be honest, happens more often than not.ontent settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

2. Stay Organized Your Way

As soon as a meeting is scheduled, write it down using whatever organizational system works best for you—planner, digital calendar, sticky notes, or all of the above. Don’t rely solely on others to keep you informed. While it’s certainly courteous for meeting organizers to send reminders, the reality is not everyone will.

Some people simply don’t know how to run a meeting well. Others may be focused on their own agenda and not particularly mindful of your needs. And unfortunately, there are times when meetings are misused—whether to micromanage, assert control, or set traps for others. It’s rare, but it does happen.
I’ve personally experienced situations where a meeting was scheduled months in advance with little follow-up, and then when people forgot or missed it, they were reprimanded or made to “make up” the meeting on their own time. In my opinion, that’s a rookie management move. Veteran leaders don’t need to flex like that.
But even in those situations, if you choose to stay with an organization, you’ve got to play by the rules. That’s why it’s essential to keep yourself covered by staying organized and proactive.

3. Come Prepared With Two or Three Questions or Comments

Let’s be honest, most people don’t want to speak during meetings. It can feel uncomfortable or forced, especially when the discussion feels unproductive. However, in some environments, managers may intentionally prolong meetings to compel participation, flex authority, or identify who’s not actively contributing. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this happen, and while it may sound petty, it’s a reality in some workplaces.

That’s why it’s smart to always come prepared with two or three thoughtful questions or comments—even if you don’t end up using them. It protects you from being put on the spot, demonstrates engagement, and can even help move the meeting along. In fact, you might unintentionally become a team hero simply by helping shift the energy or steering the meeting toward a conclusion.

Having a bit of feedback ready keeps you in control. You don’t want to be singled out as disengaged, especially when some leaders are actively looking for people to discipline or call out. So be proactive, stay alert, and be ready to contribute, even if it’s brief.

4. Don’t Be That Person—Read the Room

In every meeting, there will be people deeply invested in the topic and others who are just trying to get through it. If you’re one of the engaged participants, that’s great! Asking a question or two is perfectly appropriate, at the right time. The key? Read. The. Room.

If the meeting is running long and you notice people growing restless, fatigued, or clearly ready to wrap up, it’s probably not the best time to ask that third follow-up question. Yes, your curiosity matters, but so does group morale and professional courtesy.

If you still have questions once the meeting is over, approach the facilitator afterward. Most presenters are happy to continue the conversation one-on-one. By waiting until after the meeting, you respect everyone’s time and avoid unintentionally becoming the reason it dragged on longer than necessary.
It may not be said to your face, but dominating discussions or extending meetings unnecessarily can lead to resentment from your colleagues. Avoid being the person who always has to speak first, who doesn’t give others room to talk, or who consistently delays the wrap-up.

Final Thoughts

These suggestions may not always be popular, but neither is sitting through a poorly run meeting. Still, if you want to maintain a solid professional reputation and contribute positively to your work environment, it’s important to be a team player.
Meetings are often a necessary part of the job. How you show up to them—prepared, respectful, and group-minded—can set you apart as someone who’s thoughtful and dependable. Always ask yourself: Am I contributing in a way that benefits the group? That mindset goes a long way.