RUN A MEETING YOUR TEAM WON’T DREAD

Most business owners don’t mean to run bad meetings. They just never learned how to run good ones.

So they wing it. Talk in circles. List off reminders. End with: “Okay… y’all got that?”

And then they wonder why nothing changes. Or worse, you’re not conducting a scheduled meeting of any kind.

THE TRUTH ABOUT MEETINGS

A meeting isn’t just about checking a box. It’s about casting vision, building culture, and creating clarity.

When you run a great meeting:

✅ People feel empowered to act

✅ Everyone knows EXACTLY what to do next

✅ Your team starts rowing in the same direction

When you run a bad one:

❌ People leave confused

❌ Accountability gets blurry

❌ And your team walks out saying “Another Meeting that Could Have been An E-mail”

ELON MUSK’S SIMPLE RULE

Love him or hate him, Elon has one rule every business owner could steal:

"If you're not adding value to the meeting, you’re free to leave."

It sounds harsh, but it works. (Your key players will appreciate it)

People should only be in the room if:

✅ The topic affects them

✅ They can help move things forward

✅ They’re responsible for part of the outcome

This keeps meetings lean, focused, and full of action—not filler.

1. Have a standard scheduled meeting:

• Weekly, Daily, Monthly

• Whatever your schedule, make it sacred and protect that time

• This meeting is where victories are celebrated, changes are made, and improvements are designed

2. Have a pre-prepared agenda:

• Be specific creating the agenda

• Assign times and names

• Plan for NO interruptions and demand respect

• Plan to have lunch deliveries or have breakfast, whatever is needed to maintain discipline and seriousness

3. Review key metrics:

• Each presenter/department head covers their material

• I asked my staff to bring printed material to hand out

• Visuals are great too! Have those Google Slides or PowerPoints

• I like excel spreadsheets with charts and graphs

4. Clarify next steps:

• ACTION ITEMS: Assign clear tasks to specific people or an employee can volunteer

• ACCOUNTABLILITY: Due Dates are IMPORTANT with follow up and check in points along the way. Hold accountable in this meeting. ITS OK TO BE THE BOSS

• MEETING MINUTES: Everyone should have their notes and YOU the Boss should have notes to hold them accountable. Either take notes yourself or have a notetaker there for you

5. Open the floor:

• Let team members ask questions, bring concerns, or pitch ideas

• If a team member is going to speak up it damn well better be good

6. End with energy:

• Remind them why the work matters

• Leave on a high note

Finally:

• Have meeting condensed by the official notetaker and sent to all in attendance before days end. No excuse.

The above section gives you the why and how behind great meetings, but the K.I.S.S. Agenda is the plug-and-play template to help you actually run them.

K.I.S.S. stands for Keep It Simple Stupid.
This template is designed to:

• Keep your meetings from running off the rails

• Ensure every topic has a clear owner and a due date

• Build accountability without overcomplicating things

You can print it, fill it out by hand, or digitize it for your team.
Once you get in the habit of using it, your meetings will feel tighter, more intentional, and way more productive.

📥 Click below to download your FREE K.I.S.S. Agenda Template (PDF)

REAL LIFE EXAMPLE: THE LOWE’S TEAM HUDDLE

Not every team meeting needs to be a massive production.
The small, scrappy ones matter too.

I snapped this pic while walking through Lowe’s last week. A quick team huddle right in the aisle. Casual, but intentional. These smaller check-ins keep momentum up between your bigger, more structured meetings.

📸 Your challenge this week: Try a 5-minute “aisle-style” meeting.
Celebrate a win. Align on the day. And watch how it lifts the energy.

THIS WEEK’S ACTION STEP

🔹 Run your next meeting using the above structure + agenda

🔹 Ask your team afterward: Did this feel more clear? More useful?

🔹 Make one improvement every week. Over time, you’ll build a meeting culture that actually moves the business forward.

TO WRAP IT UP

Meetings do more than what you see on the surface. Meetings level up your teammates because they get called out in front of their peers. OR, they have their moment to shine in front of them. A prescheduled meeting held appropriately and timely creates urgency and clarity among your team. Cream rises to the top, watch your staff grow in front of your eyes.

Structure + clarity + consistency = a team that gets sh*t done.

You’ve got this. And we’re here to help.

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Want more no-fluff, straight-to-the-point strategies for scaling your brick-and-mortar business?

Here's how to stay plugged in:

Instagram – Daily tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and real talk on running a business.

X – Quickfire strategies, business gems, and the occasional hot take.

Facebook – Let's connect and talk shop with other business owners like you.

Free Online Community - I just launched a space for brick-and-mortar business owners who get it. Inside, you’ll find practical strategies, real-time support, and other entrepreneurs who are in the trenches just like you.

To your success—one brick at a time,

P.S. Meetings don’t have to suck. When you bring structure, energy, and clarity your team actually starts looking forward to them. Try the K.I.S.S. Agenda at your next meeting and see the difference.

P.P.S. Want feedback on your meeting setup? Hit “reply” and let us know how your next one goes or where you’re stuck. We read every message and we’re here to help.