How to Gracefully Decline a Meeting

Meetings should be the necessary duration to achieve objectives, even if it means being a little aggressive in time allocation. Providing notice for a meeting should be based on urgency and relevance of new information, preferably giving at least a day's notice. Preparation time for a meeting could be at least half the duration of the meeting. Gracefully declining a meeting involves politely stating that you're not required for the topic and indicating your default position to decline, without engaging in a prolonged dialogue. Providing snacks for long meetings is crucial to sustain energy and productivity. Ending a meeting effectively includes summarizing the meeting's objective, actions items, decisions, and next steps to maintain momentum. A quick check-out with a few words can offer valuable feedback on participants' feelings and thoughts at the end of the meeting.