--- title: How To Make Meetings Better (When You're Not In Charge) description: Meetings might waste more time than anything in business history. What can you do about it when it's not even your meeting? Lots of things actually... image: https://www.bizx.com/hubfs/Untitled_design_14.png --- [Back to BizX](https://www.bizx.com) ** ### Search Results No results found. - [(800) 939-BIZX](tel:1-800-939-2499) - [Sign In](https://my.bizx.com/SignIn?Url=/Home) [![BizX Logo-png](https://www.bizx.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BizX%20Logo-png.png?width=123&height=60&name=BizX%20Logo-png.png)](https://www.bizx.com/)   - [Subscribe](https://my.bizx.com/SignIn?Url=/Home) - [Apply For Membership](https://my.bizx.com/Registration) ## Subscribe via Email We're committed to your privacy. BizX uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our [privacy policy]. [Close](https://www.bizx.com/blog/how-to-make-meetings-better-when-youre-not-in-charge#) [How Tos](https://www.bizx.com/blog/topic/how-tos) | [Management](https://www.bizx.com/blog/topic/management) | [Productivity](https://www.bizx.com/blog/topic/productivity) | [Business Resources](https://www.bizx.com/blog/topic/business-resources) ## [How To Make Meetings Better (When You're Not In Charge)](https://www.bizx.com/blog/how-to-make-meetings-better-when-youre-not-in-charge) May 13, 2016 | Written by [Jen Park](https://www.bizx.com/blog/author/jen-park) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) I remember the first time I heard the phrase "managing up." It was at that point I realized that you can improve things you're not necessarily in charge of. That applies to meetings too. Everyone at a meeting is responsible for keeping it effective. The obvious things you can do are be on time, be attentive, and participate. In other words, don't show up late and keep your phone out of site. Now you're a great attendee but you're still not in charge. So what else can you do? Think about the standard principles for planning a productive meeting – having a clear purpose, developing an agenda, sending out pre-work, inviting the right people – and start there. If you're manager didn't provide a purpose or an agenda, ask for one. If nothing else this will get them thinking about it.  You can also ask your manager if there's anything you should prepare for the meeting. By putting the suggestion in their head, they might also ask others to prepare things.  Finally, once you have a purpose and agenda, make sure the right people are coming. You might suggest adding another decision maker that will help execute things more quickly. You can also suggest the tips for being a good attendee to your fellow co-workers - If they hate meetings they should be open to the feedback. For more on this and some real world examples, check out this post from [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2016/04/keeping-meetings-on-track-when-youre-not-in-charge). [‹5 Ways To Make Your Office A Happy Place To Work](https://www.bizx.com/) [›10 Signs You're Burning Out (And How To Stop It)](https://www.bizx.com/) ### Latest Posts --- - [** ](http://www.twitter.com/bizx) - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/BizX) - [** ](https://plus.google.com/+BizxInc/) - [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/bizxchange) [![](https://www.bizx.com/hubfs/BizX%20Blog%202018/apple.svg)](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bizx/id641420914?mt=8) [![](https://www.bizx.com/hubfs/BizX%20Blog%202018/google.svg)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bizx&hl=en) --- ©2026 BizX. All rights reserved. - [Privacy](https://www.bizx.com/privacy/) - [Terms of Service](https://www.bizx.com/termsandconditions/) ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=591323697722371&ev=PageView&noscript=1)