When they’re done right, meetings are a platform to investigate issues, explore novel ways of doing things, and agree on which actions should be taken. They’re also opportunities to celebrate successes and share important information with team members. However, when they’re done poorly, meetings are a source of frustration. They can feel like a waste of time, and when employees’ schedules are already packed, they can become a source of resentment. Many organizations are trying to reign in unnecessary meetings by improving the way they’re facilitated and planned, as well as giving people the autonomy to decide if their attendance is necessary. How can you be sure that your meeting is a success? Start by clearly articulating its purpose. All too often, it’s unclear what the point of the meeting is. Are you trying to solve a problem? Impart important information? Make sure this purpose is expressed well before you expect people to show up. It can also help to decide what role you want to play—and what roles you want others to take—to help ensure the meeting is meaningful. For example, you can tell attendees you want to present a new idea and you want them to act as challengers. Ultimately, you want a decision to be made, so appoint team leads as decision makers. Being intentional about a meeting will lead to its success.