Meetings exist for a reason. They create alignment, remove obstacles and support better real time decision making.

The challenge comes when every important meeting generates several more before it. Not because the work demands it, but because each level of the hierarchy wants to understand what will be discussed, avoid surprises and protect itself before the conversation moves upwards.

The irony is that the additional coordination consumes the very time needed to make progress. Meaning project streams falter, scrutiny increases and even more preparation meetings are scheduled to correct course. What began as an attempt to reduce risk becomes one of the biggest barriers to delivery.

Too often the meetings before the meeting create more delay than the meeting itself.