The Meeting Hangover Is Real—Here’s How to Cure It.

A recent study highlighted in The New York Post (referencing Harvard Business Review research) confirms what many of us already feel: ineffective meetings derail productivity, diminish morale, and leave employees with a “meeting hangover.” 

The decision fatigue and mental drain are more than minor annoyances—they directly impact overall organizational performance.

But here's the good news: it doesn't have to be this way.

With a little intentional planning, mindful facilitation and follow-through, you can turn meetings into productivity powerhouses. Here are five tips to make meetings more impactful:

1) Get in the Right Mindset

As the organizer, your first job is to protect people’s time fiercely. Time is your company’s most valuable resource, and wasting it erodes trust and morale. Before hitting “send” on that invite, ask yourself:

• Do we actually need to meet? Could this be handled via email, a quick Slack message, or a short async update? (I have a handy checklist I use for this.)

• Who really needs to be there? Decision-makers, people directly impacted—everyone else can skip it. Less is more.

  
  

Remember, every unnecessary meeting adds to the collective “meeting hangover.”

2) Set Clear Goals

Most meetings fail because the facilitator hasn’t mindfully set a goal ahead of time. Start with the end-in-mind and ask yourself:

• What do we need to achieve?

• By the end of this meeting, what decisions or alignment do we need?

  
  

When you go in with a plan, you come out with clarity, alignment, and actionable next steps.

3) Do the Pre-Work

I cannot stress this enough: meetings are won or lost in preparation.

• Agenda: Make it clear, concise, and focused (and make sure you include one in the invite!)

• Pre-reads: Give participants the context they need in advance so they can actively participate.

• Be specific: If I receive one more invite that says “Call with John”, I might scream! Even meeting titles need clarity to ensure participants know what to expect.

  
  

Preparation sets the stage for focused, productive discussions and keeps everyone from walking in feeling lost or frustrated.

4) Run with Focus and Control

Owning a meeting doesn’t mean monopolizing it—it means guiding the conversation strategically. In my team trainings, I teach tangible frameworks for:

• Keeping the discussion on track and on time.

• Allowing everyone to contribute meaningfully.

• Maintaining control while making participants feel involved and valued.

  
  

When you run a meeting with focus, you protect energy, maintain momentum, and actually get things done.

5) Follow Through

Without action and accountability, even the best meetings feel like a waste of time. End every meeting by:

• Assigning next steps clearly.

• Summarizing decisions and responsibilities.

• Following up in writing.

  
  

When people see results from meetings, they value the time invested and your meetings stop being dreaded calendar blocks.

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Interested in learning more about my Impactful Meetings training? Whether through small groups, large teams, or 1:1 coaching, I can help you design and run meetings that ensure alignment and results. Email me at hello@rapconsulting.ca and visit my coaching page for more information.