How to Make Meetings Less Miserable (For Everyone)

Let’s be honest.

Most people don’t love meetings.

A quick search will give you endless advice about improving them:

• Stick to the agenda
• Make it interactive
• Keep it short
• Make it fun
• Hear from everyone

Some of those tips help.

But many overlook a simple reality:

Everyone in the room is wired differently.

What energizes one person in a meeting can frustrate someone else.

The lighthearted storytelling that helps one teammate engage might feel like wasted time to another.
The thoughtful debate that makes one group feel heard may feel painfully slow to someone eager to move forward.

So is it possible to run a meeting that works perfectly for everyone?

Probably not.

But understanding the wiring of the people in the room will get you much closer.

What Wiring Looks Like in Meetings

When leaders understand how different wiring styles show up in meetings, they can plan conversations more intentionally—and extend more grace when people respond differently.

You may start noticing things like:

• Why some people want to get straight to decisions
• Why others want to explore every option first
• Why someone talks often while someone else stays quiet
• Why certain teammates seem uncomfortable when discussions get heated

Instead of interpreting these behaviors as personality clashes, you start recognizing them as different wiring at work.

And that shift alone can change the tone of a meeting.

How Different Wiring Styles Show Up in Meetings

Here are a few patterns you might notice.

Yellows

• Enjoy a bit of social connection or storytelling at the beginning of meetings
• Bring energy and spontaneity to discussions
• Often think out loud as they process ideas
• May lose interest if discussion becomes too detailed or prolonged

Reds

• Prefer efficiency and clear objectives
• Want to move quickly from discussion to decision
• Contribute strong opinions and strategic ideas
• Appreciate meetings that end with clear action steps

Blues

• Like to review the agenda or materials ahead of time
• Appreciate thorough discussion and careful analysis
• Notice details others may overlook
• May hesitate to speak unless they feel prepared

Greens

• Bring steadiness and calm to group conversations
• Prefer respectful dialogue over heated debate
• May wait to be invited into the conversation
• Are often flexible when plans shift or agendas change

Why This Matters for Leaders

Understanding wiring doesn’t mean trying to design the perfect meeting.

It means recognizing that different teammates experience the same meeting in very different ways.

When leaders account for those differences, meetings tend to become:

• More productive
• Less frustrating
• Easier for people to engage in

And perhaps most importantly, teams start extending more patience and understanding toward one another.

Sometimes the most powerful shift isn’t changing the agenda.

It’s changing how we interpret each other’s behavior.

Try This Before Your Next Meeting

Before your next team meeting, ask yourself one question:

Who will be in the room—and how are they wired?

A few small adjustments to the structure or flow of the meeting can make the experience better for everyone involved.