How to Run Great Meetings

Free Guides and Templates

The following guides and templates are free to download and use! You will also find all of these templates pre-configured and ready to use in the Lucid Meetings software platform.

Guides for Managers
Guides for Leadership Teams
Guides for Boards and Committees
Guides for Project Managers
Guides for Product Developers
Guides for Remote Teams

Guides for Project Managers
	A Framework for Successful Project Retrospectives Elise Keith - How to Run a Project Retrospective This meeting agenda template helps teams learn from project successes and failures together, and commit to change based on what they learned. Use this template as a starting place... [ more ]
	Discovery with a Group Ingrid Bens - How to Run a Discovery Meeting This meeting agenda template provides an excellent format for a consultant’s first meeting with a new client group, helping consultants better understand the organizations they serve.... [ more ]
	Project Status Update Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Project Status Meeting This meeting agenda template follows a standard format common in organizations with a well-developed Project Management Office. Most commonly scheduled as a weekly or bi-monthly... [ more ]
	The Essential Project Kickoff Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Project Kickoff Meeting This is the meeting agenda template the team at Lucid Meetings uses to run kickoffs for smaller projects. It covers all the basics, and gets everyone involved to create a strong... [ more ]
	Urgent Problem Solving Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Problem Solving Meeting This meeting agenda template helps a team find short-term tactical solutions to an urgent problem. The conversation includes time to gain a shared understanding of the problem,... [ more ]

Guides for Managers
	A Process for Accessing the Wisdom of Your Group Paul Axtell - How to Seek Group Input Seeking input from colleagues is different from the typical approach to group problem solving. Problem solving is a back-and-forth conversation. Seeking input from colleagues is a reflective... [ more ]
	A Protocol for Clearing Questions and Handling Complaints Paul Axtell - How to Handle Complaints and Questions Surfacing and working through questions and complaints is key to growing and sustaining a great organization (or personal relationship). While clearing questions and dealing... [ more ]
	Daily Leadership Huddle Elise Keith - How to Run a Daily Leadership Huddle The Daily Huddle keeps management teams coordinated, focused, accountable and efficient. Lasting just 10 to 15 minutes, a Daily Huddles ensures everyone knows what’s going on each... [ more ]
	Defining Decision-Making Criteria Beatrice Briggs - How to Establish Decision-Making Criteria with a Group This meeting agenda template helps teams clarify the scope of an upcoming decision, the information they'll need to gather about each option they consider, and... [ more ]
	Gathering Productive Feedback to Build Alignment on a Proposal or Plan Richard Lent, Ph.D. - How to Run a Feedback Meeting Gather productive feedback and build alignment on a new proposal or plan using this simple meeting structure. After presenting the proposal, you’ll lead the discussion using three... [ more ]
	Leading a Sensitive Conversation Dr. Patricia Thompson - How to Run a Meeting About Sensitive Topics Use the helpful strategies in this meeting agenda template to facilitate group discussions about sensitive topics. While the techniques outlined can help to create more... [ more ]
	Making a Decision by Consensus Richard Lent, Ph.D. - How to Run a Decision-Making Meeting True consensus is something we value for its ability to unite a group around a particular decision. Too often, however, all we achieve is false consensus in which participants... [ more ]
	Monthly + Anytime Decision Making Elise Keith - How to Run a Decision-Making Meeting This meeting agenda template explains how to prepare for and run a solid decision making meeting. This straightforward process walks your team through the critical decision making... [ more ]
	New Leader Introduction: Designing the Relationship with Your Group Paul Axtell - How to Run a New Leader Introduction Meeting Establishing a relationship with your new group or team is simple, common sense, and straight forward. In many organizations, it’s a missing piece in the puzzle called... [ more ]
	One-on-One: 30-60-90 Meeting Paul Axtell - How to Run a One-on-One Meeting This meeting agenda template is one of two one-on-ones designed by Paul Axtell. One-on-one sessions can truly be a back-and-forth, give-and-take discussion that leads to transparency,... [ more ]
	One-on-One: Standard Checking-In Meeting Paul Axtell - How to Run a One-on-One Meeting This meeting agenda template is one of two one-on-ones designed by Paul Axtell. One-on-one sessions can truly be a back-and-forth, give-and-take discussion that leads to transparency,... [ more ]
	Reaching Alignment with Your Team Paul Axtell - How to Run a Team Alignment Meeting Leaders seek alignment when defining goals, making decisions, or formulating strategic plans. When it’s important to have everyone in the group on board with the outcome, working... [ more ]
	Reaching Decisions by Consent and Compromise Richard Lent, Ph.D. - How to Run a Decision-Making Meeting An effective meeting should build alignment and commitment to any decisions. Different approaches to reaching decisions can be more/less useful in building commitment. And... [ more ]
	Using the Group to Consult to the Final Decision Maker Richard Lent, Ph.D. - How to Run a Decision-Making Meeting Here you ask for the group’s input to shape a decision you are about to make. You propose a decision and gather the group’s reactions. This is an effective approach when you want... [ more ]

Guides for Product Developers
	Agile Standup Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run an Agile Standup Meeting Fast, structured, and to-the-point, the agile stand-up is meant to keep a team fully in-synch on fast moving projects. As you might guess from the name, the "stand-up" was... [ more ]
	Cross-Functional Weekly Update Elise Keith - How to Run a Weekly Update Meeting This is the meeting agenda template the team at Lucid Meetings uses to run our weekly meetings. Needless to say, we think this format works pretty darn well. This meeting agenda... [ more ]
	Kaizen Event Dan Prock - How to Run a Kaizen Event A kaizen event, also known as a kaizen blitz or lean event, is a 4-hour to multiple-day working session aimed to remove process “wastes”. Wastes include over-production, over-processing,... [ more ]
	Progress, Plans, & Problems Elise Keith - How to Run a Weekly Update Meeting Inspired by the written report format put together by the fine folks at Weekdone, this meeting agenda template adapts the PPP status report into a status meeting where people can... [ more ]
	Value Stream Mapping Workshop Dan Prock - How to Run a Value Steam Mapping A value stream map makes it easy to visualize the process used to get value to the customer. Functional teams visualize their group’s work and information flow so that everyone is... [ more ]

Guides for Leadership Teams
	Cross-Functional Weekly Update Elise Keith - How to Run a Weekly Update Meeting This is the meeting agenda template the team at Lucid Meetings uses to run our weekly meetings. Needless to say, we think this format works pretty darn well. This meeting agenda... [ more ]
	Daily Leadership Huddle Elise Keith - How to Run a Daily Leadership Huddle The Daily Huddle keeps management teams coordinated, focused, accountable and efficient. Lasting just 10 to 15 minutes, a Daily Huddles ensures everyone knows what’s going on each... [ more ]
	Defining Decision-Making Criteria Beatrice Briggs - How to Establish Decision-Making Criteria with a Group This meeting agenda template helps teams clarify the scope of an upcoming decision, the information they'll need to gather about each option they consider, and... [ more ]
	Getting Clarity on Decision Making by Creating a Decision Matrix Tammy Adams Spann - How to Create a Decision-Making Guide This process helps you and your team get clear on how key decisions will be made in the organization. At the end of the meeting, you will have a documented Decision Matrix... [ more ]
	Monthly + Anytime Decision Making Elise Keith - How to Run a Decision-Making Meeting This meeting agenda template explains how to prepare for and run a solid decision making meeting. This straightforward process walks your team through the critical decision making... [ more ]
	Quarterly Strategic Refresh Elise Keith - How to Run a Strategic Plan Refresh Meeting During this meeting, teams review their strategic progress and establish targets for the next 90 days. Part retrospective, part working session, and part time-out, running... [ more ]
	Strategic Plan Refresher Paul Axtell - All strategic plans become outdated quickly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to start over. This relatively short meeting agenda template will help your team identify important changes in your... [ more ]
	Strategic Planning 1 of 5: Vision Setting Meeting Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting This meeting agenda template is part of a strategic planning process designed specifically for use with remote participants. This process walks remote teams through creation of... [ more ]
	Strategic Planning 2 of 5: Mission Setting Meeting Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting This meeting agenda template is part of a strategic planning process designed specifically for use with remote participants. This process walks remote teams through creation of... [ more ]
	Strategic Planning 3 of 5: Defining Organizational Values Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting This meeting agenda template is part of a strategic planning process designed specifically for use with remote participants. This process walks remote teams through creation of... [ more ]
	Strategic Planning 4 of 5: Goal Setting Meeting Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting This meeting agenda template is part of a strategic planning process designed specifically for use with remote participants. This process walks remote teams through creation of... [ more ]
	Strategic Planning 5 of 5: Setting Strategies Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting This meeting agenda template is part of a strategic planning process designed specifically for use with remote participants. This process walks remote teams through creation of... [ more ]
	The Complete Toolkit for Strategic Planning with Remote Teams Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting A strategic plan is a formal map that explains how your company will execute a chosen strategy. The plan should spell out where an organization is going over the next... [ more ]
	Weekly Leadership Team Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Leadership Team Meeting Held at the same time and day each week, teams use this meeting to drive accountability and resolve issues impeding progress. This is an action-oriented working meeting rather... [ more ]

Guides for Boards and Committees
	Formal Board Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Board Meeting Boards have many responsibilities and must abide by certain rules and formalities, but there is no one set way to run a board meeting. For every board meeting, the directors must still... [ more ]
	Roberts Rules of Order Standard Order of Business Elise Keith - How to Run a Board Meeting Love, hate, hubris, and anxiety - Robert's Rules inspires strong feelings and opinions in those who have come to know them. Regardless of how anyone might feel about Robert's Rules, we... [ more ]
	Simple Board Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Board Meeting Boards have many responsibilities and must abide by certain rules and formalities, but there is no one set way to run a board meeting. For every board meeting, the directors must still... [ more ]
	Startup Board Meeting Elise Keith - How to Run a Board Meeting Boards have many responsibilities and must abide by certain rules and formalities, but there is no one set way to run a board meeting. For every board meeting, the directors must still... [ more ]

Guides for Remote Teams
	Latte and Learn Pilar Orti - How to Run a Retrospective Meeting This is a meeting agenda template for "Latte and Learn." Latte and Learn sessions help team members to learn together by reflecting on a recent experience as they share it with... [ more ]
	Remote Team Check-In Elise Keith - How to Run a Remote Team Check-In Meeting This meeting agenda template is inspired by Wade Foster's blog post about how the distributed team at Zapier keeps their work in synch and their team connected when meeting... [ more ]
	Remote Team Working Agreement Lisette Sutherland - How to Create a Team Working Agreement Collaboration tools should help bring your team together and enhance the way you work. But there’s more to working remotely than just having the right collaboration tools in... [ more ]
	The Complete Toolkit for Strategic Planning with Remote Teams Anna O'Byrne - How to Run a Strategic Planning Meeting A strategic plan is a formal map that explains how your company will execute a chosen strategy. The plan should spell out where an organization is going over the next... [ more ]

Pre-Meeting Interviews Before a Mediation or Conflict Resolution

Tree Bressen - How to Run a Mediation Preparation Meeting This template guides users through a pre-meeting interview in preparation for a conflict resolution session of 2-6 participants (+ facilitator). The latter session may be... [ more ]

Free Guides and Templates

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