Let’s face it—most meetings are an absolute waste of time.
If you’ve ever sat through an hour-long discussion that could have been an email, congratulations, you’ve survived a corporate rite of passage.
But as a manager, you don’t just suffer through bad meetings—you’re in charge of them.
And if you’re still involved in every decision, every update, and every minor detail, I have some news for you: you’re the problem.
I say that with love.
And a little bit of sarcasm.
But mostly love.
The truth is, effective leaders understand that delegation is the secret ingredient to better meetings, stronger teams, and yes, a more peaceful existence.
Here’s what I’ve learned about delegation as a manager—and how it directly impacts the way you run meetings.
1. You’re Not That Important (In Every Meeting, Anyway)
Harsh? Maybe.
True? Absolutely.
One of the biggest delegation mistakes leaders make is assuming they need to be involved in every conversation.
If you’re constantly stuck in meetings, when are you actually doing the work that moves the business forward?
Here’s the deal: If you don’t trust your team to handle meetings without you, you don’t have a delegation problem—you have a leadership problem.
This is where the magic of better meetings comes in.
Ask yourself:
Why are we meeting? (Define the purpose in outcomes—if you can’t, cancel it.)
Who actually needs to be here? (Spoiler: fewer people than you think.)
What will we accomplish? (A tight agenda is your best friend.)
Delegation means letting your team handle the details.
If the outcome of a meeting only requires an update, request a summary—don’t sit through the whole thing.
2. The Right People, Not All the People
Somewhere along the way, companies decided that meetings should be an all-hands-on-deck situation.
This is how you end up with 12 people on a Zoom call while three of them talk and the rest secretly check their emails.
Not everyone needs to be in every meeting.
In fact, the fewer people involved, the more efficient the discussion.
When you delegate properly:
✅ Subject matter experts lead discussions on their areas (not you micromanaging them).
✅ Decisions don’t get bogged down by unnecessary opinions.
✅ People respect your meetings because they serve a purpose.
Take a hard look at your calendar.
Are you dragging people into meetings they don’t need to be in?
Worse—are you dragging yourself into meetings you don’t need to be in?
Delegation isn’t just about assigning tasks.
It’s about empowering people to run with their responsibilities—so you can focus on the bigger picture.
3. A Tight Agenda = A Tight Ship
Meetings without an agenda are like road trips without a map.
You might eventually get somewhere, but not without a lot of wasted time and unnecessary detours.
A well-structured meeting has:
A clear purpose (why are we here?)
A short, focused attendee list (who really needs to be here?)
A documented agenda with time blocks (what will we cover and how long do we spend on each item?)
And here’s the kicker: if a topic needs more time, don’t hijack the entire meeting—schedule a separate one.
Your team will thank you.
Your productivity will thank you. And most importantly, your sanity will thank you.
The Bottom Line: Delegation Makes You a Better Leader (and Your Meetings Suck Less)
Better meetings and leadership development go hand in hand.
If you’re constantly running the show, you’re not developing your team—you’re just babysitting.
When you delegate effectively:
✔ You get out of unnecessary meetings.
✔ Your team steps up and takes ownership.
✔ Meetings actually accomplish something.
So, the next time you find yourself in yet another unnecessary meeting, ask yourself:
Should I be running this… or should someone else?
Because the answer might just free up your time—and your calendar.
Now, go delegate something.
You’ve earned it.
Most meetings are a waste of time—but that’s a leadership problem, not a scheduling one. Delegation is the key to better meetings and stronger teams. Stop micromanaging, only involve the right people, and stick to a tight agenda. When you let go, meetings become productive, and you get time back to focus on what matters. Ready to lead smarter, not harder? Let's chat and we'll make your leadership (and meetings) more effective!
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