Run Meetings People Actually Enjoy (Teams Live)

If “Can you hear me?” eats the first seven minutes, your process needs a tune-up. 

Turn meeting dread into true connection 

We’ve all been there: a Teams meeting that starts late, drags on, and ends with everyone wondering what’s next. The culprit? It’s rarely the tech itself—it’s the setup. Most Teams meetings fail because: 

• Settings are ignored: No one checks options before hitting “Join.” 

• Roles are unclear: Who’s presenting? Who’s taking notes? 

• Follow-ups are scattered: Action items vanish into the ether. 

The good news? Fixing this doesn’t require magic—just a smarter process. 

3 Practical Steps to Transform Your Meetings 

1. Pre-Set Meeting Options 

Before you send that invite, take two minutes to configure your meeting settings. Enable the lobby so guests don’t pop in unannounced. Turn on recording for easy reference later. Assign presenter roles so you’re not scrambling mid-meeting. These small tweaks prevent chaos and set the tone for professionalism. 

2. Use a Collaborative Agenda 

Stop emailing agendas that no one opens. Instead, use the tools at hand like OneNote or Loop for a shared agenda. Why? Because everyone can see what matters—and add their own points. This keeps the conversation focused and ensures no one feels blindsided. Bonus: It’s a great way to encourage engagement before the meeting even starts. 

3. Automate Follow-Ups 

Nothing kills momentum like forgotten action items. Use Teams + Planner to capture tasks instantly during the meeting. Assign owners, set due dates, and let automation handle reminders. When follow-ups are baked into the process, accountability becomes effortless. 

But will it work for me? 

Of course it will. With a little effort and dedication. 

These steps aren’t just about saving time—they’re about creating meetings people actually want to attend. When participants know what’s coming, feel heard, and leave with clear next steps, meetings stop being a chore and start driving results. 

We’ve all been there, in meetings that could have been emails. Or just disappeared altogether. But the reality is that meetings don’t have to be painful. With a little prep and the right tools, you can turn “Can you hear me?” into “Great meeting—let’s do this again.”