If you want more effective meetings, it might pay off to first look into the reason why so many meetings are ineffective. In other words: how can you paralyze an organization and make sure as little as possible gets done?
Some time ago I came across the Simple Tamper Field Manual of the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA. This manual contains a variety of methods for sabotage. Initially, it was intended to be a source of inspiration to counter the Nazis in Europe.
This manual was released around 1940, but a lot of its content is still very relevant today. The final pages of the document contain several tips on how to oppose organizations while remaining unnoticed. By reversing these tips I came to 6 tips for effective meetings (and working more effectively in general).
Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential.
Stephen R. Covey