End Game: How to Effectively Close a Meeting

Even meetings that begin with enthusiasm, can fizzle as they adjourn. Add a few elements to close a meeting with more impact, and attendees will leave the conference room energized and clear on how to move forward.

First, allow time for this. You may need 10 minutes to wrap up in an intentional way. Build that in by setting your phone timer to signal when to begin conclusion.

Then, create a structured close. Know how you can best spend that final 10 minutes and give it some bones. Here are three ideas for that structure beyond the classic, “Next steps…?”

Ask parting questions. Patty McCord, chief talent officer at Netflix from 1996–2012, instituted the practice of asking two questions at the end of each meeting: Have we made any decisions in the room today? If we have, how are we going to communicate them? When you answer these questions the group will have clarity and consensus, and the message will move beyond the meeting room’s four walls.

Acknowledge value. Employ one of five essential tasks of a successful close advocated by Paul Axtell, author of Meetings Matter: 8 Powerful Strategies for Remarkable Conversation. He says, “People rarely state the value created by a conversation, and therefore lose a wonderful opportunity to validate both the conversation and the individuals in it.”

Conduct a closing round. Meetings can be undermined by negative conversation after the meeting. Ev Williams, CEO of Medium, prevents this with what he calls the “closing round.” Take five minutes to go around the table and have each person comment on the meeting itself (no discussion) to allow everyone to feel heard and improve future meeting quality.Pick a close, run with it and watch the impact of your meetings skyrocket. 

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