Three Ways to Create Instant Clarity in Meetings

Meetings are supposed to move things forward.

Too often, they just move in circles.

Instead of alignment, you get confusion. Instead of momentum, you get mental fatigue.

Here’s the truth: clarity isn’t a byproduct of a good meeting — it’s the point of it.

Every meeting either fuels clarity or drains it. There’s no middle ground.

At Russo Leadership, we see clarity as a form of leadership, not a personality trait or communication style, but a discipline.

And one tool that makes that discipline visible fast is The Six Types of Working Genius, which helps teams name how they naturally contribute to the process of work.

Let’s talk about how to use both structure and self-awareness to create instant clarity in every meeting.

1. Start With Purpose, Not a Calendar Invite

Clarity begins before anyone joins the call.

Every meeting should answer one simple question:

“What are we here to do?”

Are you brainstorming, deciding, or executing? That distinction alone changes everything.

When you name the purpose upfront — and share it before the meeting — you signal what kind of thinking you’re inviting. It also helps you invite the right mix of people.

This is where the Working Genius model comes in handy.

It breaks work into three stages:

1. Ideation (Wonder and Invention) – asking what could be.

2. Activation (Discernment and Galvanizing) – deciding what should be.

3. Implementation (Enablement and Tenacity) – making it happen.

When you know what stage you’re in, you can design the meeting — and your invite list — accordingly.

That’s how you stop dragging the wrong people into the wrong conversations.

2. Use an Agenda as a Boundary, Not Bureaucracy

Most meetings don’t go off the rails because people don’t care — they go off the rails because no one drew the rails in the first place.

An agenda is your clarity contract. It tells people where we’re headed, who’s leading what, and when we’ll know we’ve arrived.

Send it in advance, stick to it, and use it as your anchor when things drift.

If you know your team’s Working Geniuses, use that knowledge to assign ownership.

• Someone high in Galvanizing might lead discussion or motivate action.

• Someone high in Tenacity can track time and follow-through.

• Someone strong in Discernment can be your reality check — the one who says, “That’s a great idea, but does it actually solve the problem?”

When people work from their strengths, you get more focus, less friction, and better results in half the time.

3. End With Decisions, Ownership, and a Shared Definition of Done

Clarity doesn’t end when the conversation does.

It ends when everyone walks out knowing exactly what happens next, and who owns it.

Before you close, take five minutes to summarize decisions, assign next steps, and define what “done” looks like.

Don’t assume people heard the same thing. Say it out loud. Write it down. Share it after.

This is where the Implementation geniuses (Enablement and Tenacity) shine.

They’re the ones who turn talk into traction.

Let them help capture action items, build momentum, and make sure nothing slips between meetings.

Ask three grounding questions before anyone leaves:

• Who owns what?

• What does success look like?

• Who needs support, and from whom?

That five-minute check-out is the difference between “productive discussion” and actual progress.

Bring It All Together

Meetings don’t have to be energy drains.

They can be the clearest reflection of how your team thinks, works, and leads under pressure.

When you align your meetings to the stage of work you’re actually in, use the Working Genius framework to invite the right people, and end with explicit ownership — you turn meetings into catalysts for clarity, accountability, and forward motion.

Because in high-performing cultures, clarity isn’t luck.

It’s leadership in action.

Want to Bring The 6 Types of Working Genius to Your Team?

If the Working Genius framework sparked insight for you, imagine what it could do for your entire team.

We help organizations use The 6 Types of Working Genius to turn self-awareness into real results — clarifying roles, improving collaboration, and eliminating the frustration that comes from misaligned expectations.

When teams know how each person naturally contributes, meetings move faster, accountability feels lighter, and performance becomes sustainable.

Learn more about our Working Genius programs and how to bring this clarity and cohesion to your organization.