Stop Nodding Along in Meetings

Meetings often become an arena of polite nods, vague affirmations, and a never-ending cycle of postponing decisions. If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting wondering what was actually accomplished, you’re not alone. Too often, these interactions are filled with overused phrases like:

❌ “That sounds great.”
❌ “Let’s table it for another time.”
❌ “Let’s circle back when we have more info.”

While these responses may seem harmless, they do little to push conversations forward or create actionable results. High-performing teams know that success in meetings isn’t about agreeing with everything — it’s about asking the hard questions that challenge the status quo, clarify objectives, and drive progress.

After a decade of working in high-performing teams, I’ve seen firsthand how the most impactful team members elevate conversations by simply asking the right questions. Here are 13 questions that can transform the way you show up in meetings and ensure you leave a lasting impression.

1. What do we have to deprioritize to do this well?

Why it matters:

Focus is a limited resource. Every new initiative requires time, energy, and attention. Asking this question forces the group to…