Let’s be real—business meetings can either be a goldmine of productivity or a total waste of time. The difference? How we engage. Over the years, I’ve developed three simple yet powerful Rules of Engagement that help business owners lead better meetings, foster creativity, and build stronger teams. Ready to stop dreading meetings and start getting real results? Let’s dive in! Here are the 3 rules of engagement for better meetings.

1. Feedback is Just Information—Don’t Make It Personal

Ever walked out of a meeting thinking, Wow, that felt like an attack? Here’s the truth: feedback isn’t Postive or Negative—it’s just information. Looking at it this way makes the feedback being shared totally neutral. When we start personalizing it, we turn into Petty Betty, holding grudges, putting up our defenses and shutting down constructive conversation. That’s a one-way ticket to a toxic work culture.

Instead, take feedback for what it is: a tool for growth. When someone offers you information, resist the urge to defend or deflect. Instead, ask: How can I use this to improve? The more we separate feedback from personal identity, the easier it becomes to grow without resentment.

2. 10% of Every Idea is a GOOD Idea

We’ve all heard the dreaded phrase: “We’ve tried that before.” Ugh. Nothing kills innovation faster. Instead of shutting down an idea, apply this rule: Find the 10% that works. No idea comes out fully baked. The best solutions are built, brick by brick, from small good ideas stacked on top of each other.

When someone throws out a thought, respond with: “What I like about that idea is…” This keeps the conversation moving and encourages collaboration. When we learn to extract value from every suggestion, we create a culture of innovation instead of a meeting full of disengaged people just waiting for it to end.

3. It’s Not the Person, It’s the Process

When mistakes happen (and they will), often times we jump straight to blaming others. I have seen how this toxicity leads to a break in another person's confidence. It also makes them second guess everything.  Crippling your leaders from making any decisions. Who's left holding the bag of responsibility...YOU.  Also, let’s get real—no one wakes up in the morning thinking, I can’t wait to mess up at work today! People want to do a great job. YOU want to do a great job. More often than not, errors trace back to a broken process, not a broken person.

Instead of pointing fingers, ask: Where did the process fail? Did we skip a step? Is there even a process? Was training unclear? Was there a lack of communication? Shifting focus from who messed up to what needs fixing not only improves efficiency but also builds a culture of trust and accountability. And believe me—happy, supported employees perform better than scared, defensive, disempowered ones.

Put It Into Practice

These three rules might sound simple, but they’re game-changers when actually applied. Want to see the difference in your own meetings? Try them out this week and let me know what shifts you notice! Better yet—reply and tell me which rule you needed the most. I’d love to hear from you!

💡 #BetterMeetings #BusinessBetty #WorkSmarterNotHarder