Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

Far too many meetings perish from a lack of follow up.

What’s the use of getting everyone together and discussing important issues if nothing is done afterward?

1. End every meeting by creating an action plan. The plan should include key decisions made, next steps, who is responsible for each step, and due dates. Keep it short — no longer than a page.

2. Send it out to all participants as soon after the meeting as possible so you don’t lose momentum.

3. Follow up with people as deadlines approach to be sure they are on track. The more your reputation as an effective meeting facilitator grows, the more likely people will help make your meetings — and the follow ups — a success.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “Guide to Making Every Meeting Matter.”

To read that article and join the discussion, please click here.