“Routine sets you free.” — Verne Harnish
If you want your business to scale, you need rhythm — not chaos.
But mention “more meetings” to most teams and you’ll hear groans.
It’s not that people hate meetings; they hate bad ones.
That’s why the Scaling Up / Rockefeller Habits framework prescribes a powerful cadence of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual meetings — each designed with a clear purpose, rhythm, and outcome.
When done right, meeting rhythms don’t waste time.
They save it — by building alignment, focus, and accountability into the operating system of your company.
The Power of Rhythm
In today’s economy, information isn’t just data — it’s your competitive advantage.
But data only becomes insight when you see patterns.
As Malcolm Gladwell explains in Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, our brains excel at pattern recognition — but only when we have enough frequent data points to connect the dots.
If you’re only reviewing data once a year, you’ll miss the patterns that drive performance.
Meeting rhythms turn that information into action, week by week, quarter by quarter.
That’s how companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple anticipate change while others react too late.
Radical Change Needs Radical Stability
Fast-growing companies — or Gazelles, as the Financial Times calls them — experience in one quarter the kind of growth other companies see in a year.
To survive that pace, they need Radical Stability.
That’s what meeting rhythms provide.
The predictable cadence of connection allows your team to manage constant change without losing its footing.
At Goldman Sachs, for example, traders hold two daily huddles — one before markets open, one before they close — to process what happened, identify risks, and prepare for tomorrow.
The faster the world moves, the more rhythm you need.
A Simple Formula for a Weekly Meeting That Works
Most meetings fail because they lack structure or focus.
A great Weekly Meeting has three parts:
-
Focus on the Company
Start with the data: your Energy Map or dashboard.
Is your #1 priority on track? Where are the reds, yellows, and greens?
If 4 out of 5 metrics are red, act now — not next quarter. -
Focus on You (the Team)
Discuss team priorities, challenges, and commitments.
Each person rates their week Red / Yellow / Green.
Celebrate wins and confront blockers early. -
Focus on the Customer
What are customers saying this week?
What feedback or insights are emerging from the field?
This keeps the organization tuned to reality, not assumptions.
Steve Jobs did this every Monday.
He reviewed all of Apple’s key projects — making the hard calls that kept innovation aligned and execution tight.
The Leadership Payoff: Predictable Progress
Meeting rhythms don’t exist to fill calendars.
They exist to create predictable progress.
When rhythms are embedded, your business gains:
- Clear priorities and accountability.
- Faster decisions based on real data.
- Stronger alignment between teams.
- Greater agility and less firefighting.
Scaling a business isn’t about speed.
It’s about rhythm — the right tempo between thinking, deciding, and doing.
Final Thought
High-performing companies don’t meet more often — they meet more effectively.
As your business grows, the need for connection and coordination grows with it.
Meeting rhythms are how you keep that connection strong — how you maintain stability amid change, and accountability amid growth.
Want help designing your company’s meeting rhythm for maximum alignment and accountability?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.
To Scale Up your business! Take our Scaling Up/Four Decisions Needs Assessment to discover how your business measures against other Scaled Up companies. We’ll contact you.
TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS
Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.
My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.
Want help designing your company’s meeting rhythm for maximum alignment and accountability?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.
ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION
For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.
Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.
If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops
