<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/7f34524d-9389-4bb8-b803-8796988dd464/Web_logo_(256__256px)_(2).png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/7f34524d-9389-4bb8-b803-8796988dd464/Web_logo_(256__256px)_(2).png" width="40px" /> What we love about this handbook section

🖤 We love the dedicated focus from Pento on how they approach meetings. It’s important to them, and they show that by giving it space in their Handbook. As they point out themselves below, meetings have a bad rep, but when done well, they are vital to how a business succeeds, so set your philosophy and approach, document it, and share with the world so you manage expectations and align on cultural approach with talent.

****Check out their entire handbook for inspiration here: 🔗Pento's full handbook

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Meetings have a bad rep, but if we do them right, it can be some of the most productive time we spend together.

Head to How We Communicate to read up on some of our broader basics.

General Guidelines

Meetings can be valuable but they’re often lacking the structure and facilitation to make them truly worth their time. We should all:

• Optimise for output (and the host/planner is responsible for this). Don't plan a meeting if it doesn't have a clear expected output. If you set up a 1-hour meeting for 4 people, the cost of the meeting is 4-hours, not 1, so make sure you know what you want to get out of the meeting and why it's important that everyone invited is there
• Always set an agenda and take notes. It's important that others know in advance why they have been asked to attend a meeting, what the agenda is, and what has been discussed and decided at the meeting via notes and actions circulated afterwards
• Listen and welcome everyone to contribute. We don't want our meetings to be dominated by the loudest voices. An agenda enables a more inclusive meeting — attendees can contribute to the agenda and prep in advance

<aside> 🍩 The exception to these guidelines are our fortnightly Donut app enabled #coffee-buddies hangouts. The randomness of these chats is what makes them great!

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Individual & Company-Wide Meetings

1:1s

Usually 30-min, held weekly, between manager and direct report

The purpose of 1:1s at Pento is alignment and support — attendees can align around the direct reports current goals and work in progress, and the direct report can seek the input and support of their manager on areas that they have defined as needing their input. This is why the direct report is responsible for the agenda and (usually) the output of the meeting.