Tried to run a Monday morning meeting without an agenda and it took 45 minutes just to decide on coffee orders

I figured we could wing it for once since the team seemed relaxed, but by the time someone brought up actual project deadlines, three people had already left to get lattes, and I learned that structure isn't optional unless you want a $200 coffee tab on the company card. Has anyone else had a meeting go totally sideways from skipping the plan?

2 comments

2 Comments

williams.amy1mo ago

Totally feel your pain on this one. A meeting without an agenda is just a money pit of wasted time and fancy drinks. I swear, the SECOND someone says "let's wing it," all focus goes out the window and nobody remembers why they're even in the room.

simon_wood721mo ago

Oh man, this is painfully relatable. I tried the whole no agenda thing once for a Friday catch up and it turned into a two hour debate about whether we should get a new office plant or a fancy coffee machine. By the end of it, nobody remembered what we were supposed to be talking about and someone had actually ordered pizza for lunch just to keep the peace. It's wild how a simple list of topics can save everyone from that kind of chaos. I mean, the coffee order story is classic too, I feel like that's just what happens when people don't have a clear starting point. Good luck ever getting everyone back on track after a latte run, it's basically a lost cause.