Here’s How To Put The Meat Back Into Your Meetings

Have you ever left a meeting thinking:

“Why do I even bother? The same two people ran their mouths, the rest of the team sat like bobblehead dolls, and we got nowhere?” 

Yeah, I thought so. I’ve seen it time and time again.

Most leaders run meetings that cater to the loudest voices while everyone else quietly checks out. Then those same leaders scratch their heads, wondering why the team feels unheard and disengaged.

Reality check: You’re practicing management without a license.

I’ve got good news for you, folks. There’s a fix for this. It’s called an InfoBlitz.

An InfoBlitz is a simple, straightforward way to cut the fat and leave the meat when it comes to your meetings. An InfoBlitz ensures leaders are listening to everybody, not just anybody. And of course, by “anybody” I mean the loudest complainers and the self-appointed experts. Here’s how it’s done.

Why “Does Anybody Have Ideas?” Doesn’t Work

We’ve all heard it. Maybe you’ve even said it.

"Does anybody have any ideas on how we can improve around here?"

What happens next?

• Rob the Rookie throws out a decent idea.

• Bill the Bummer jumps on him like a lion on a wounded gazelle.

• Tim the Team Clam sits in the corner on his phone, hoping you won’t make eye contact.

Before you know it, the meeting descends into a free-for-all of side conversations, negativity, and bad attitudes. You walk away frustrated. The team walks away feeling ignored.

Congratulations: you just trained your team to stop speaking up.

What’s an InfoBlitz?

An InfoBlitz is a fast, fair, and fearless way to run a meeting that actually gets results. It’s not fancy. It’s not complicated. It works because it forces you to listen to everybody and keeps the loudmouths in check.

How to Run an InfoBlitz: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Have a Topic and a Chairperson

• Don’t wing it. Decide on a specific question you want feedback on. The better the question, the better the feedback.

• Example: "How can we hold the team accountable when it comes to following company safety standards?”

• Assign a clear chairperson—you or someone you’ve selected and informed in advance— to run the meeting.

Step 2: Give People Time to Think

• Before you start, give folks a moment (or even a day) to gather their thoughts. Quality responses often take time to formulate.

• Respect the process and give ideas time to percolate.

Step 3: Set a Time Limit

This is a critical one, and I know you’ve seen what happens when you don’t. Don’t let that one guy at the table who is just warming up at the 10-minute mark monopolize the meeting.

• Tell your team they have X amount of time to share their thoughts before you’ll move to the next person.

• Give everyone 15-20 seconds to share their idea.

• Be firm on your time limit. When time’s up? Smile and say, “Next!” Your team will thank you.

Step 4: Everyone Gets to Share

• Go around the room one by one and give everyone the same amount of time to answer.

• Don’t interrupt. Don’t jump ahead. Don’t let Tim in the back on his phone hide.

• If someone doesn’t have an idea, they just say, “Pass.”

And here’s the kicker: once they pass, they can’t go back to the break room later and say, “The boss never listens to me.” You gave them their chance.

Step 5: No Discussion…Yet

This is where most leaders blow it.

• During the InfoBlitz, there’s no discussion of the ideas.

• Accept the information neutrally. No eye-rolling. No shooting down suggestions.

• Begin the discussion only after everyone’s been heard.

Step 6: Keep Going Until Everyone Participates

• After everyone goes once, go around again if needed, following the same rules and time constraints. This is not the discussion. It’s fact-finding.

• When everyone says “pass,” you’re done.

• Now you’ve got real input from real people — not just the self-appointed spokespersons of the group.

  
  

Here’s Why It Works

The InfoBlitz works because it:

1. Levels the playing field and lets everybody speak.

2. Cuts down on time-wasters and tangents.

3. Builds trust by showing you’re serious about listening.

4. Stops the toxic “meeting after the meeting” in the parking lot.

Don’t Forget:

• Explain the rules up front so nobody’s blindsided.

• Leaders, model the behavior. Respect the clock, don’t roll your eyes, and listen.

• Act.

After the InfoBlitz, act on the ideas or explain why you won’t. Nothing kills morale faster than asking for input and ignoring it.

If everyone passes on the first go-around, don’t pat yourself on the back. That’s bad news. It means they don’t trust you enough to speak up.

Leadership is about balancing human relations with profitability and proficiency.

Your next meeting is your chance to lead like a professional, not just someone with a title. You’ll be surprised what your team has to say once you finally stop talking and start listening.

Ready for your team to implement the InfoBlitz?

Connect with John for training solutions tailored specifically to your team.