THE 5 EVILS OF MEETINGS

Introduction 

Meetings were created to bring people together, align thinking, and drive decisions. Yet in many organizations today, meetings have become one of the biggest drains on time, energy, and motivation. Most teams don’t suffer because they meet too often. They suffer because they meet badly. Unclear discussions, endless talking, and zero follow-through quietly erode productivity. Over time, this doesn’t just waste hours—it damages morale, trust, and ownership. People begin to associate meetings with frustration rather than progress. The real problem is not the meeting itself. It’s the hidden evils inside poorly run meetings. Let’s break down the five silent killers that turn meetings into energy-draining rituals—and how recognizing them can help you reclaim your team’s time and focus. 
1. Meeting Without a Leader or Moderator 
A meeting without ownership quickly turns into a talking shop. Everyone has something to say. No one is responsible for steering the conversation. Without a clear leader or moderator: Discussions drift off topic Strong voices dominate Quiet but valuable perspectives disappear Time slips away without structure A meeting needs someone who holds the space—someone responsible for direction, time, and outcomes. This doesn’t mean controlling the discussion. It means guiding it with purpose. When no one owns the meeting, everyone assumes someone else will. The result is confusion, not collaboration. A simple solution is clarity: every meeting should have one clear owner whose role is to guide, refocus, and conclude. 
2. Meeting Without an Agenda 
If you don’t know what problem you’re solving, you’ll spend the entire hour wandering. An agenda is not a formality—it’s a promise. A promise that the meeting has a purpose. Meetings without agendas often: Start late and end late Jump randomly between topics Leave participants unsure why they were invited An agenda sets expectations. It tells participants: What will be discussed What preparation is needed What outcome is expected Without it, people show up mentally unprepared. The meeting becomes reactive instead of intentional. Even a simple agenda with two or three discussion points can dramatically improve focus and efficiency.
3. Meeting But Not Discussing
Some meetings look productive on the surface—slides are shared, updates are given, and notes are taken. But underneath, something critical is missing: real discussion. People sit quietly. Concerns remain unspoken. Disagreements are buried. When meetings become one-way broadcasts: Important risks stay hidden Innovation stalls Engagement drops Silence in meetings is rarely a sign of agreement. More often, it reflects fear, disengagement, or exhaustion. Healthy meetings create psychological safety—where people feel comfortable questioning, clarifying, and contributing. Without discussion, meetings lose their purpose as collaborative spaces. A meeting should be a conversation, not a lecture. 
4. Meeting Without Decisions 
This is one of the most frustrating evils. You talk for 60 minutes. Everyone shares opinions. Multiple viewpoints are discussed. And then the meeting ends… with nothing decided. No clarity. No direction. No ownership. Meetings without decisions create the illusion of progress. People leave feeling busy but uncertain. Over time, this erodes confidence in leadership and the meeting process itself. Every meeting doesn’t need to make big decisions—but it should move something forward. Even a decision to gather more information is still a decision. If no decisions are made, the meeting has failed its most basic purpose. 
5. Decide But Don’t Do 
This is the most dangerous evil of all. Great discussions happen. Clear decisions are made. Everyone nods in agreement. And then… nothing happens. No action items. No accountability. No follow-up. Momentum dies quietly. When decisions are not translated into action: Trust erodes People stop taking meetings seriously Execution culture weakens A decision without execution is just a thought. Every meeting should end with clarity on: Who will do what By when How progress will be tracked Without this, meetings become intellectual exercises rather than drivers of results. 

Why Bad Meetings Hurt More Than No Meetings 

Poorly run meetings don’t just waste time—they drain energy. They create frustration, disengagement, and cynicism. Over time, people stop preparing, stop contributing, and stop caring. This is how morale quietly erodes. People don’t resent meetings because they are long. They resent meetings because they are empty. 

Replacing the Evils with Ownership 

Fixing meetings doesn’t require more tools or longer discussions. It requires intention. Effective meetings have: Clear ownership A defined agenda Open discussion Visible decisions Strong follow-through When meetings are done right, they become powerful alignment tools. They build trust, create clarity, and reinforce accountability. 

Final Thoughts 

Meetings are not the enemy. Poorly run meetings are. When you eliminate the five evils—lack of leadership, no agenda, no discussion, no decisions, and no execution—you reclaim more than just time. You rebuild focus, ownership, and morale. Fix the meetings. Respect people’s time. Build a culture where conversations lead to action. Because productive meetings don’t just move projects forward—they strengthen teams.