I’ve lost count of how many teams I’ve seen schedule endless meetings in the hope of “getting organized.”

Here’s the reality: meetings can’t fix a system that isn’t there. They’re a band-aid, not a foundation. Without a clear workflow or shared framework, people leave meetings unsure of what to do next. Confusion persists. Work stalls.

A simple, shared system changes everything. It provides clarity, tracks responsibilities, and surfaces what really needs attention. Meetings then become purposeful check-ins, not a place to recreate the plan every time.

The takeaway: invest in your system first. Make it easy for people to know what to do and where to put information. Use meetings to support the system, not replace it. That’s how small teams and big teams alike can move faster and work smarter.