The Meeting Makeover: 10 Science-Backed Hacks for Better Results

Transform Your Team’s Meetings with These Simple, Proven Changes

Ever left a meeting thinking, 'That could have been an email'? You’re not alone. The good news: science offers a toolkit for fixing meetings that drag down productivity and morale. Drawing from Steven G. Rogelberg’s The Surprising Science of Meetings and the latest organizational research, here are 10 hacks to make your meetings more effective, inclusive, and energizing.

1. Challenge the Default Length. Don’t just book an hour. Try 48 or 25 minutes. Odd-length meetings disrupt autopilot and boost focus.
2. Stand Up for Speed. Standing meetings are 34% shorter—and just as effective. Try it for your next daily huddle.
3. Craft Intentional Agendas. A good agenda is more than a list. Prioritize, assign ownership, and share it in advance.
4. Assign DRIs. Apple uses Directly Responsible Individuals for every agenda item. This boosts accountability and follow-through.
5. Keep Meetings Lean. More than 7-8 people? Split the group. Smaller meetings mean better decisions and less social loafing.
6. Break the Routine. Change locations, rearrange seats, or start with music or snacks to shake things up and spark creativity.
7. Start with a Win. Begin meetings by sharing a quick success or gratitude. It sets a positive, collaborative tone.
8. Use Brainwriting. Instead of brainstorming aloud, have everyone write ideas in silence first. You’ll get more—and better—contributions.
9. Rotate Facilitators. Give different team members a chance to lead. It keeps meetings fresh and helps develop leadership skills.
10. Leverage Digital Tools. For hybrid or remote meetings, use polls, digital hand-raising, and anonymous feedback to keep everyone engaged.

Small tweaks can make a huge difference. The science is clear: when meetings are designed with intention, everyone wins.

Sources: Steven G. Rogelberg, The Surprising Science of Meetings; stevenrogelberg.com; amazon.com