Do your meetings feel stale, overly formal, or simply uninspiring? The simple shift from sitting across the desk to sitting beside the people you serve can significantly transform your interactions, supercharging enthusiasm, positivity, and collaboration.

This can truly provide leaders with a simple yet powerful approach called the “catch-up meeting,” where the key difference is letting the person you’re meeting with set the agenda. 

Here’s how to implement this effectively:

1. Sit Beside, Not Across: Changing your seating position physically represents collaboration and openness, breaking down subconscious barriers to communication.
2. Let Them Lead the Agenda: Allow the other person to bring one or two agenda items—whether personal, professional, or team-oriented. This empowers them, showing that their voice truly matters.
3. Practice Mindful Listening: Be present, non-judgmental, and fully attentive. Your role is to listen, understand, and facilitate, not to dictate solutions.
4. Jointly Develop Action Steps: Together, determine actionable next steps. Shared ownership increases accountability and engagement, leading to meaningful outcomes.

By sitting beside your colleagues and those you serve and empowering them to lead the agenda, you foster an environment of trust, openness, and genuine collaboration. This simple practice not only enhances meeting productivity but also strengthens interpersonal connections within your team.

Better meetings begin with mindful leadership. Let them lead, and watch your relationships flourish.