Glossary
What does “Agenda” mean?
The list of what a meeting will cover, in order, usually with a time for each item and who leads it.
What it means
The list of what a meeting will cover, in order, usually with a time for each item and who leads it. Sent beforehand, it tells people why the meeting exists and how to prepare.
An example
“Weekly planning, 30 min: 1. Last week’s actions (5) 2. Customer escalations (10) 3. Next week’s priorities (12) 4. Wrap-up (3).”
Not to be confused with: Minutes
The agenda says what the meeting will cover, before it happens; the minutes record what happened.
Where you will see it
In calendar invites, board packs, meeting apps that track agenda items, and every formal meeting. See our meeting templates for ready-made agendas.
Questions
When should an agenda be sent?
Ideally a day or more before, so people can prepare; for formal meetings, rules often set a notice period.
What is a timed agenda?
One that gives each item a set number of minutes, adding up to the meeting’s length.
What if the meeting has no agenda?
Ask for one, or propose one at the start: the purpose and the two or three things to cover. A meeting without an agenda tends to spend its time on whatever was raised first.
Other meeting words
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