Each guide gives you a ready-to-use structure for a specific type of meeting: a suggested flow, sample objectives, engagement techniques, and tips for leading it effectively. Use them when you're planning a standalone meeting or preparing to bring a topic to a standing meeting.

Start with your reason. What kind of conversation is this? The reason you're meeting shapes everything -- your objective, your structure, and how you facilitate.

• If you haven't identified your reason yet, start with Do You Need a Meeting? A Decision Checklist.
• If this is a meeting related to a decision underway, first figure out which decision-making phase you’re in to ensure you’re designing the right meeting agenda for where you are.

Write a clear objective. Each guide includes sample objectives you can choose from or adapt. For a deeper dive into writing your own, see Quality Meeting Objectives.

Pick the guide that fits. You don't need to read them all. Find the one closest to what you're trying to do and use it as your starting point.

Meeting Design Guide: Surface & Validate a Problem

You think there's a problem but you're not sure you're seeing the full picture. You need to check your assumptions before jumping to solutions.

Meeting Design Guide: Status & Risk Check-In

You need to understand where your team's work stands so you can surface risks early and troubleshoot together.

Meeting Design Guide: Group Problem-Solving

You're stuck and need to think it through with other people. You already know the problem; you need help figuring out what to do about it.

Meeting Design Guide: Scoping a Decision Process

You need to clarify what decision is being made, who is involved, what process you’ll use, and what needs to happen next.

Meeting Design Guide: Getting Input or Feedback on a Decision