Bad Meetings Happen to Good People: How to Run Meetings That Produce Results

The chapter on meeting room configurations was a total eye-opener for me. I never realized how much the physical layout of a space could dictate the flow of conversation or contribute to attendee distractions. Espy provides seven alternative layouts that actually address the specific needs of different meeting types, which is genius. Beyond the physical setup, the book emphasizes that time and attention are our most valuable assets. I’ve started being much more selective about my attendee list to avoid inviting people who just want to 'observe.' It makes the decision-making process significantly faster when the room isn't crowded with unnecessary stakeholders. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to stop being a victim of a bloated calendar.

Leigh Espy has managed to distill years of project management wisdom into a concise, actionable guide that doesn't waste a single word. I love the focus on the 'why' behind every meeting—if there’s no clear goal, don't have the meeting. The practical tips on splitting larger groups into smaller teams to prevent dominant personalities from taking over were particularly helpful for my latest workshop. By keeping the dominators in one group, the other teams were finally able to have successful, balanced conversations. The templates are excellent and provide a great starting point for anyone nervous about facilitating for the first time. I highly recommend this for both beginners and those who have been facilitating for years but need a refresh.

This book is a lifesaver for anyone drowning in calendar invites that lead nowhere. Leigh Espy cuts through the corporate fluff to provide a manual that is both concise and incredibly practical for the modern office. I particularly appreciated the checklists provided for each stage of the meeting process, as they make it easy to stay disciplined. Truth is, many of us run meetings on autopilot without realizing how much company time we are actually wasting. The author’s advice on using action verbs in agendas shifted how I approach my weekly syncs immediately. While some of the advice feels like common sense, seeing it organized into a coherent system is exactly what I needed. It is a solid resource that I plan to keep on my desk for quick reference.

After hearing so many coworkers complain about meeting fatigue, I decided to pick this up to see if there was a better way to facilitate. The writing style is refreshingly direct and doesn't drag on with unnecessary anecdotes. One of the biggest takeaways for me was the focus on clear results; you have to know exactly what items need to be addressed before you even start. I’ve started implementing the 'action verb' agenda style, and the difference in participation is already noticeable. To be fair, I did find the advice on active listening—like nodding and saying 'uh-huh'—a bit distracting in practice. Sometimes that can feel a bit forced or performative during a high-stakes discussion. Overall, it's a very helpful guide.

Finally got around to reading this, and I have to say the section on key phrases for difficult situations is worth the price alone. We've all been in those meetings where one person dominates the conversation, and Espy provides professional ways to pivot back to the agenda. The book reminds us that we are all works in progress and that failures in facilitation are just opportunities to grow. I liked the layout of the book, especially the way it breaks down the process from the initial invitation to the final follow-up. It's less of a narrative and more of a handbook, which I prefer for business topics. It’s a great tool for making meetings count instead of just making them happen.

Not what I expected from a standard business book, but the heavy focus on being selective with your guest list was a total game changer for my department. We used to invite everyone just to be 'inclusive,' but this book helped me realize that we were actually wasting people's time and company money. The author’s point about observers being a distraction is spot on. I’ve also started paying closer attention to how I layout the meeting room to minimize distractions, which has helped keep our sessions on track. My only minor gripe is that some of the sections felt a little repetitive, but perhaps that’s necessary to drive the points home. It is definitely a resource I will keep handy.

As someone who facilitates remote and in-person workshops, I really appreciated the focus on the physical environment and the seven different room configurations. It’s rare to find a book that gets into the nitty-gritty of chair placement and how it affects power dynamics. The writing is very easy to understand, making it an accessible read for anyone transitioning into a management career. I’ve already started using the recommended 'results-oriented' agenda format, and it has cut our meeting times down by at least fifteen minutes. Even if you think you know how to run a meeting, there are definitely some gems in here that will help you improve. It's all about that discipline to follow through on the preparation.

Ever wonder why you're sitting in a boardroom for an hour just to hear updates that could have been an email? This book addresses that exact frustration by forcing you to ask the hard questions before sending out an invite. Personally, I found the content to be a perfect fit for those just starting their careers in management. It covers the basics of landing a meeting and following up with precision. However, I was hoping for a bit more depth regarding 1:1 dynamics, which felt a little glossed over compared to the group session tactics. If you are a seasoned project manager, you might find some sections a bit too elementary. Still, the templates included at the end are quite useful for saving time.

Look, we all know that bad meetings are a plague on productivity, so a book like this is always going to be relevant. The author does a great job of highlighting why we need to be more selective with invites to avoid wasting company resources. I appreciated the reminder that the more people you include, the harder it is to reach a consensus. That being said, the tone is a bit dry at times, and I found myself skimming through the parts that felt like common knowledge. Not gonna lie, I was expecting a few more case studies or real-world stories to illustrate the points. It’s a decent overview, but it doesn't necessarily break new ground in the world of management literature.

Frankly, I found the advice in this book a bit too basic for anyone who has been in a corporate role for more than a year. Most of the suggestions, like having a clear goal or not inviting too many people, are things you learn through trial and error very early on. I also strongly disagreed with the suggestion to use verbal cues like 'uh-huh' to show you're listening. In my experience, that just interrupts the speaker's flow and makes the facilitator seem like they aren't actually processing the information. The book is very short and easy to read, but it lacks the psychological depth I was looking for in a leadership text. It might be a good gift for a fresh college grad, but not for an experienced leader.