Growing a company is much like building a champion sports team.

You need a high-performing team and a clear plan for the long term, near term, and immediate future. The team must follow a disciplined process to practice and perform together, constantly working towards their goals. Winning teams have all these elements — but the key to their success is making sure that, when they meet, they face the brutal facts of their current state and situation.

In business, this is no different. Companies looking to scale, especially high-growth companies, must have a disciplined meeting cadence. These meetings are the “practice” sessions where the team focuses on what matters most: the long-term vision (10+ years), the near-term 3HAG (3-Year Highly Achievable Goal), and the now (1HAG and 90-day plans). Having a plan is essential, but the real challenge lies in using meeting time efficiently to tackle the most critical issues — the brutal facts that need to be confronted to move the team and company forward.

As Andy Grove said, “If the brutal facts are not faced by leaders, the brutal reality sets in.”

Many businesses do well in planning and writing down their goals. Where they falter is in how they utilize the time spent in meetings. Without a clear focus and disciplined approach, these meetings can miss the mark, allowing the most important issues to go unaddressed, stalling growth.

The Importance of Meeting Cadence

In business, we "play the game" 98% of the time and “practice” 2% or less. In sports, the ratio is the opposite. This is why it's crucial for business teams to have a clear plan and a strong meeting process when they gather. To ensure that your meetings are more than just routine check-ins, follow these key steps to make them as impactful as possible:

1. Write it Down

Use Metronome Growth Systems (MGS) to document a clear and known plan. This keeps your focus sharp and your team aligned.

2. Ensure Alignment

All team members should be fully aware of the plan and understand their role in it. This clarity sets the foundation for success.

3. Establish a Meeting Rhythm

Build a consistent rhythm in your calendar, using MGS as a best practice to track your meetings. Ensure everyone knows when and why these meetings matter.

4. Prepare for Meetings

All team members must come prepared, focusing on the standing agendas set for each meeting (see The Metronome Effect, Chapter 8). This ensures the conversation is focused, efficient, and aligned with the goals.

5. Stick to Standing Agendas

Having a standard agenda for every meeting may sound monotonous, but it’s a game-changer. It keeps the team focused on the right issues and drives powerful conversations that push the team forward.
The Power of the Meeting Area in Metronome Growth Systems

As a CEO and CEO Coach, I rely heavily on the Meeting Area in the Metronome Growth Systems platform. This tool keeps your plan front and center during every meeting, while ensuring that the meeting cadence is established and logged. The agenda stays consistent, and you can focus solely on the brutal facts that will drive your team and company to success.

If your team is consistently addressing the brutal facts in every meeting, your meetings will never be boring. Instead, they will be evolutionary, pushing your company closer to achieving its goals and maintaining the right focus.

For the 8 Key Benefits of Daily Team Meetings, dive into this blog.