Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about discovering, on a long client call, that an important team meeting on key opportunities and annual targets had been scheduled that day, and my relief that it was cancelled. I have rewritten it into advice on keeping track of meetings that matter.
Checking office mail during a call, I was shocked to see an important meeting scheduled that day about key opportunities and the team's targets for the year, with my manager and senior leaders. It had been cancelled, which was a relief, because I would not have been prepared. I went back to the call, which was still on topics unrelated to my work, then rushed to the office, a few minutes late again. On the short drive I spoke to my wife and missed a call from a delivery contact, since family comes first.
Why do important meetings get missed?
Because they arrive in the same inbox as everything else. A planning meeting with leaders looks like one more invite until the day it happens.
How do you keep track of meetings that matter?
- Review the week on Monday: scan the calendar for meetings with senior people or targets on the agenda.
- Accept or decline every invite: so nothing sits unread.
- Prepare the evening before: a few notes on your bids and numbers.
- Set a reminder: 30 minutes before, not 5.
What should you prepare for a targets meeting?
The status of your live bids, your wins and losses this year with reasons, and one or two ideas for improving the team's win rate. Leaders remember people who arrive with facts.
How do you balance family calls and work calls?
Set simple rules: some calls can wait ten minutes, others cannot. Call back promptly when you skip a work call, with a short message first. Both sides respect a clear pattern more than constant availability.
Was the cancellation lucky?
Yes. It was also a warning to check the calendar properly, which is a habit worth keeping.
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