Most meetings are too long because nobody set a clear time budget at the start. You have a 60-minute meeting when you only needed 15 minutes.
The minimum viable meeting gets you what you need and ends early.
The 15-Minute Structure
If you only have 15 minutes, here's how to use them:
Minutes 0-2: Context
State the problem or decision. No background, no history. Just what needs to happen today.
Minutes 2-10: Discussion
Get the input you need. Call on people directly if you need their perspective. Don't let it become a free-for-all.
Minutes 10-12: Decision
Make it. Or table it. No middle ground.
Minutes 12-15: Action
Who does what by when. That's it.
How to Set It Up
When you book the meeting, say: "I need 15 minutes of your time to decide X."
Most people will block 15 minutes. Few will push back on a 15-minute request. And if they do, you know the decision matters more than you thought.
The Magic of Early Ends
The best meetings are the ones that finish early. Everyone's more engaged in shorter bursts. And when you end at 12 minutes instead of 15, you build a reputation for efficiency.
People will start protecting your calendar time because they know it won't become an hour-long ordeal.
When You Need More Time
If 15 minutes genuinely isn't enough, it's usually because:
- The decision is complex and people need to process options
- There are multiple stakeholders with competing interests
- You don't actually know what you need to decide yet
In that case, do a 30-minute meeting with the same structure. Don't default to an hour because that's what's in your calendar template.
The Rule
Every meeting should have a time budget. If you don't know how long the meeting needs to be, you don't know what you're actually trying to accomplish.
Set the timer. End early. Build a reputation for efficiency.
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