Why Your 'Why' Matters More Than You Think

The Power of Purpose in Meetings

Monica Joy Krol

Feb 02, 2025

Transcript

Hey there, meeting warriors! 👋

As a facilitation artist and product leader, I've experienced countless meetings - some transformative, others painfully forgettable. Today, I want to share a game-changing insight: the secret to remarkable meetings is crystal-clear PURPOSE.

Why Purpose Matters

Most meetings suffer from a critical disease: purposelessness. Sound familiar? You're not alone. A majority of meetings lack a clear, articulated purpose - and that's killing your team's productivity and engagement.

As Priya Parker wisely notes in "The Art of Gathering":

"Reverse engineer an outcome: Think of what you want to be different because you gathered, and work backward from that outcome."

This approach helps us focus on the 'why' behind our meetings, ensuring every minute counts.

The Art of Gathering Book — Priya Parker — The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

The Purpose Prescription

A well-defined meeting purpose:

🎯 Keeps everyone focused

🚫 Minimizes distractions

📈 Ensures organized outcomes

👥 Helps invite the right participants

Douglas Ferguson and John Fitch, in their book "Magical Meetings," emphasize:

"Whatever it is, your objective will determine how you structure your agenda!"

This underscores how crucial purpose is in shaping every aspect of your meeting.

Practical Tips for Defining Meeting Purpose

1. Clearly State Your Goal

Write the purpose in the meeting invite
Verbalize it at the meeting's start
Make it clear, concise, and measurable

2. Example Transformation

Weak: "Let's discuss the marketing campaign"
Strong: "We will finalize the marketing campaign budget"

3. Empower Participant Choice

- Give team members permission to skip if not aligned

- Encourage asking "How will I contribute?"

The Iceberg Model of Purpose

Jay Papasan, co-author of "The ONE Thing," uses the Iceberg Model to illustrate how purpose forms the foundation of our actions. Just as the visible tip of an iceberg is supported by its massive underwater structure, our visible actions in meetings should be grounded in a solid, well-defined purpose.

Iceberg Model from The One Thing — The Iceberg Model from The ONE Thing

Final Thought

Meetings don't have to be soul-sucking experiences. With intentional purpose, they can become powerful collaboration moments. As we've learned from these experts, purpose isn't just a nice-to-have - it's the bedrock of effective meetings.

Want to dive deeper? Check out these insightful books: