[jedberg]

Lots of good advice in here, including "ask for an agenda" a couple of times.

As a corollary, provide context and and agenda when scheduling meetings.

Any time I set up a meeting, the first thing I do is put the context: what brought me to my calendar to set up this meeting in the first place? Then I put an agenda. What are we going to talk about? It doesn't have to be long or detailed down the minute or anything like that. Just a list of things I want to talk about.

As a result, my meetings tend to be the ones that go under time and have an outcome at the end. People who aren't relevant self-select out, so our discussion doesn't wander, and people come prepared with data and/or opinions. It's much more efficient.

Being a meeting leader is a skill that is learned, but it can be learned.