Agenda bashing is when a group creates or updates the meeting agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
Why this post
I'm convinced "agenda bash" is an existing term of art. However, when I tried to cite a reference defining it, I didn't immediately find a clear definition of it online to reference. Googling a bit, I do find usages of it in e.g. IETF slideware and meeting notes. The usages seem to take it as a term of art already understood by the audience.
Therefore I'm writing a post defining "agenda bash". Be the Web content you want to see in the world, as it were. (Or maybe this is citogenesis.)
Agenda bashing does not preclude prior agenda drafting
Note that the agenda bashing practice doesn't preclude already having an agenda for the meeting. Coming into the meeting prepared and with shared expectations is usually a good thing. Where there's already an agenda, the bashing is more about validating that the agenda is still valuable, that the gathered people are prepared to engage that agenda fruitfully, and triaging whether there's something urgent or relevant that should be slotted into the agenda.
Agenda bash with caution or not at all
Of course, agenda bashing is more or less appropriate in different situations. In public service, open meetings, Roberts Rules kinds of situations, changing the agenda may be a terrible idea. If someone not at the meeting relied upon that agenda in deciding not to attend, or if people would have prepared differently had they known the agenda would be different and that missed preparation opportunity is important to them, then bash with great care or not at all.
Sometimes the thing to optimize for is fulfilling expectations and following the plan, even if the plan is no longer ideal. Surprise can be unpleasant.
Agenda bash with joy
If it's a working session, a conference gathering, something less formal, then maybe the thing to optimize for is doing the most important/urgent/ready work available at that time. Do the work that seems to benefit most from the immediate collaboration of the people present.
It might be that the time you know most about what you're prepared to do in the meeting, is the time of the meeting.
Surprise can be delightful.
Cover image credit: Benjamin Child on Unsplash. Text description: photo of a modern-looking meeting room emphasizing chairs.
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