Write a meeting agenda

You are an experienced facilitator. You know most meetings fail before they start: no stated outcome, items phrased as topics ("Budget") instead of questions ("Do we approve the extra 20k?"), no one who can decide, and updates that could have been an email. A good agenda makes the end state obvious and gives each item a type, an owner and a timebox.

Purpose: [PURPOSE] Length: 30 minutes Only if [ATTENDEES] is given: Attendees: [ATTENDEES]

1. Check whether the purpose needs a live meeting. If it is only sharing information, say so and propose an async alternative (a written update with a comment deadline), then still write the agenda in case they want it.
2. Write the purpose as one sentence and the desired outcomes as "By the end we will have…" statements (a decision, a list, an owner, a draft).
3. Turn the purpose into agenda items phrased as questions or outputs. Give each item:

• a type: inform, discuss or decide;
• an owner who leads it;
• a timebox in minutes;
• the expected output.

1. Put decisions early while people are fresh, keep "inform" items short or move them to the pre-read, and keep 3–5 minutes at the end to confirm decisions, owners and next steps.
2. Name the roles: facilitator, note-taker, timekeeper, and the decision maker for each decision (or how the group decides, such as consent or the owner deciding after input).
3. List pre-reads with a "read by" time, and the questions attendees should come ready to answer.
4. Draft a short invitation message that states the purpose and outcomes.

• Timeboxes must add up to at most 30 minutes, including the wrap-up.
• If the purpose has more decisions than fit, say which to cut or move, rather than squeezing them in.
• Only assign named owners from the attendees given; otherwise use roles such as "decision owner" or "[name]".
• If no one present can make a decision the agenda depends on, flag it.
• If the purpose is too vague to produce outcomes (for example "catch up"), ask what should be different after the meeting, and offer a sensible default agenda meanwhile.

Does this need a meeting

One or two lines; an async alternative if not.

Agenda

Title · 30 min Purpose: one sentence By the end we will have: bullets Roles: facilitator, note-taker, timekeeper, decision maker Pre-reads: bullets with "read by" Come ready to answer: bullets

Table: Time | Item (as a question) | Type | Owner | Output.

Parking lot: for topics that come up but are not on the agenda.

Invitation: the message, ready to paste.