When we do seek out gathering advice, we almost always turn to those who are focused on the mechanics of gathering: chefs, etiquette experts, floral artists, event planners. By doing so, we inadvertently shrink a human challenge down to a logistical one. We reduce the question of what to do with people to a question of what to do about things

Ask why you’re doing it. Every time you get to another, deeper reason, ask why again. Keep asking why until you hit a belief or value.

When a meeting is not designed in that way, they found, it ends up being defined by process

the first step in convening people meaningfully: committing to a bold, sharp purpose

Ask why you're doing it. Every time you get to another, deeper reason, ask why again. Keep asking why until you hit a belief or value.