Antoine Sudan and David Dutch are two friends who created WEDO after discovering the joys of working and planning meetings. 

### 

![PME Magazine](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/wp_content_uploads_2018_09_diapositive30_25efb9625e.png)

> This start-up company from Fribourg created a software designed to optimize work organization and meetings. About forty big companies are customers, among which the Groupe Mutuel. 

Before being associates, Antoine Sudan and David Dutch were two teenagers living in the Broye region and taking the train together to go to school. They dreamed of creating their own company together but they needed some work experience, so they both started to work once they got their engineering degree.

They soon discovered the surprises and disillusions of corporate life. “Collaboration was not as easy as expected, especially during meetings”, explains Antoine. “We were often missing answers and solutions to simple questions such as ‘who takes care of what’, ‘how’ and ‘for when’, regardless all the e-mails we were receiving”. Therefore, the two friends had an idea: develop a collaborative task manager to simplify work progress. They started to work on their project from of 2014.

What differentiates them from others is that no funds were raised for their project: they developed their software on their own while they were still working. Furthermore, to optimize their product, they contacted their potential customers and questioned them to have a clear idea on their needs and point of view. They conducted more than 300 interviews to develop their tool in the best possible way. The first version of the software was launched in May 2015 and was first tested with a few of their sales leads who were curious to discover its functionalities.

Their software is thus an organizational solution. It is a common and collaborative space to which everyone has access and can follow the work progress in real-time. Hence, people know exactly who is in charge of what and for when it is due. No need to make several calls or to send amounts of e-mails to give a feed-back on a project. The interface is made in a didactic manner and is within everyone’s reach. The price varies according to the number of users and is between 15 and 25 Swiss francs per month and per user. Hence, the software allows to manage meetings, tasks and check-lists at reasonable cost.

## Work progress in real-time

Nearly three years after the first launch of the software, the contractors, who are today 31 and 32 years old, have proved successful. More than 40 health facilities are among their customers, and other companies such as Groupe Mutuel. Christian Lalain, member of the IT department of the insurance company, first discovered WEDO when he was the municipal councilor of Saillon. “I wanted to find a solution to the traditional paper files on which we would stick a post-it note with essential information or updates, which would eventually end up being lost or worn down. For that reason, I installed WEDO on the municipality’s computers last year. It’s great: everyone is working on the same tool and the different working spaces structure all activity. If a person calls to make an appointment with a particular person or for an information, the person at reception can create a task and assign it to the corresponding person, who will receive a notification. She will then know exactly what to do or what to answer if the person calls back. The software thus improved communication and interaction not only among collaborators, but also with our citizens. It definitely improved the quality and efficiency of our service and increased our team spirit”. 

## Servers in Switzerland

Given the positive results observed in Saillon, Christian Lalain suggested his employer at the Groupe Mutuel to use this tool. Groupe Mutuel previously used another tool called Wunderlist, purchased by Microsoft. The start-up company from Fribourg is proud of its success and is still growing surely but slowly. “Once our first client signed, there was a second, and a third…” recalls David Dutch. “We first reduced our working time, then we became self-employed. We are now established as a LLC and our office is based in Fribourg. And we are hiring! We are planning on hiring two new collaborators this year”. The two associates started off by looking for customers before going to fairs. In Switzerland, there are very few competitors. As their servers are based in Switzerland, they can claim their 100% swiss origin, a key argument for customers who fear data theft. 

\-

Source: [Original article from PME Magazine](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/article_wedo_pmemagazine_2018_06_8bc9187094.pdf)

This start-up company from Fribourg created a software designed to optimize work organization and meetings. About forty big companies are customers, among which the Groupe Mutuel. 

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WEDO’s great success

Thanks to Fri Up for this video portrait and for the support brought to our startup.

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Portrait of WEDO by Fri Up

> Antoine Sudan is a graduate engineer in project management. In 2014, while working in a company, the Staviacois finds that managing team tasks without the right tools can be chaotic in the face of a growing mass of information. He therefore decided to team up with a friend to develop an application capable of coordinating work in a company in a simple and efficient way.

"This will never work. That was the verdict of the first person to whom we presented our project three years ago. He was a former professor. He said it' s impossible to solve complicated problems with simple software. But that's exactly what my friend and I had in mind.

Fortunately, our engineer mentality quickly took over. What's the point of letting ourselves be beaten down by criticism?

It is best to get as much out of it as possible to find the right solution. In order to establish the chances of success of our application, we went to present it to several potential customers. Get out of the building, a rather difficult exercise for me. Indeed, the prospecting made me nervous at first. It's hard to get out of your comfort zone and present a growing idea to a business owner. In the end, it was by acting that I gained confidence. Our project became clearer as the meetings went on and I gradually set aside my doubts. My friend and I had a lot of questions and it was often our contacts who gave us the right answers.

Our tenacity seems to have paid off. WEDO is currently used by around 40 clients, including the Fribourg Cantonal Bank. My friend and I can live off the income from our business and therefore dedicate ourselves entirely to its development. One thing is certain: overtime will continue to accumulate! This is a new challenge that we have to face. When you're self-employed, you also have to know how to stop for a moment and look back to savour what you've accomplished. The bottle of champagne has been chilled for a long time. I hope that we will soon find the time to open it. »

> Our tenacity seems to have paid off

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_09_image_001_9c6997c758.png)

**Antoine Sudan**co-founder of WEDO Sàrl

Photo: © Kevin Schlüter ([Fri Up](http://www.friup.ch/maps/fri-up/)) / Source: 
[Original Interface article](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/article_wedo_interface_2017_09_d56ea6676a.pdf)

An article on WEDO published in l'Interface de la Fédération Patronale et Économique (September 2017).

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The interface (Business and Economic Federation)

The EMS d'Humilimont is located in a magnificent setting surrounded by greenery and forest with a splendid view of the Fribourg Pre-Alps. We welcome 33 residents for long-term care. Some 50 employees accompany the residents.

## Why did you opt for WEDO?

We were looking for a tool to delegate and track tasks. Outlook did not allow us to obtain the desired traceability. WEDO gives us a global vision of the pending tasks.

## How do you use WEDO to organize your work? Can you give us a concrete example?

We have put together several checklists that allow us to easily follow our internal processes: welcoming residents, welcoming staff, scheduling RAI assessments, updating documents, annual party, etc.

On the other hand, we use WEDO to centralize repair orders for building maintenance. Transport planning, purchasing and vehicle reservations are also carried out on the platform.

## What was the reaction of your employees when you integrated WEDO into your company?

Organizational change inevitably leads to resistance. We have therefore trained the various employees in order to help them understand this new tool.

The hesitation of managers to acquire a new tool has gradually disappeared. Today, we could no longer do without WEDO.

## How has the collaborative tool changed the way you communicate?

As far as communication is concerned, it's fantastic! Thanks to WEDO, we forget less. The collaborative tool makes it possible to centralise the information circulating in the company in order to facilitate access to the various employees.

We have kept the oral communication but thanks to the fast typing, we systematically leave a written trace of our discussions.

## What is your favorite feature in the application?

For some, task management that allows you not to forget anything and to organize yourself with a global vision. For others, the checklists that allow a control of the processes and guarantee a perfect traceability.

## How has WEDO changed the way you work as a team?

The trust placed in individual employees does not exclude the need to monitor the progress of outstanding tasks. WEDO allows us to be more precise in our approach to teamwork. Thanks to WEDO, we have become more demanding in the follow-up of actions and this without any additional effort. We write down the tasks to be done and take the time to organize them when we have a moment.

## Who would you recommend our application to?

We recommend WEDO to any company that wants to improve its communication. In fact, whenever we have the opportunity, we recommend WEDO to anyone who might be interested.

Myriam Fragnière Dufour, director of Humilimont's EMS: "WEDO allows us to centralize the information circulating in the company to facilitate access to the various employees."

Testimonial from Myriam Fragnière-Dufour, Director at EMS Humilimont, asserting that WEDO enables them to be sharper in their approach to teamwork

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Humilimont's EMS works with WEDO

Today's update allows you to add any external person to your WEDO network via their email address.

## Usage example

Let's say you are working on a construction project called "Project AP" with the help of an external consultant. In WEDO, you create a new subject to track the progress of this project.

When you create a topic, WEDO guides you through three steps: 1\. topic name, 2\. topic members and 3\. Topic colors.

Here, it is the second step that interests us. You can now add external people via their email. In my example, this is my consultant. To do this, simply enter his email in the search bar. WEDO will automatically prompt you to enter his or her First and Last Name. Take a look at this instead:

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2016_07_guest_invite_d2b244b756.jpg)

Note that an invitation will be sent to j.boss@jbconsulting.ch (the preview of this invitation is visible on the right side of the screen). The consultant will then be able to join your network. He or she will only have access to the topic "Project AP". This way you control confidentiality.

## Other examples

Use guests to :

* Add the members of the Board of Directors to the meeting concerning them
* Delegate tasks to your suppliers
* Invite a client to follow the progress of a project
* Working on projects with collaborators from several companies
* And so on.

## Spectrum of operation

Member management integrates guests for the entire network, both in terms of topics and checklists. A guest entered once can be reused for the following checklists and topics. When you remove a guest from the members of a topic or checklist, his access is instantly removed.

## Conclusion

Thanks to the guests, you collaborate with everyone on the same platform. Don't hesitate to ask for a trial period if you want to be part of the adventure. You will be able to test WEDO for free as a team for 30 days.

Invite your contacts via their email address and collaborate with them directly in WEDO.

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Collaborate with guests

## Proximity

WEDO is based in the heart of the French-speaking part of Switzerland, close to you. Its employees are easily reachable by phone or by email. 

## Collaboration

Collaboration is the most important element of any professional activity, today more than ever. WEDO is a web application that supports this collaboration by facilitating it and making it visual. In the office or on the move, your colleagues and the operating activity of your company will be with you at all times. 

## Simplicity

The first impression is always the same: “a simple, intuitive and user-friendly interface”. It only takes a few minutes to understand the collaborative tool. Everyone can get organized in a few clicks thanks to WEDO. 

## Communication

Communication is the key to success. Is it not true for human resource management, project management, collaboration within a company and human relationships in general? 

## Efficiency

The goal is to be efficient without wasting any time. Organization is therefore necessary, but it should not disturb the completion of an activity. In this sense, providing an efficient tool is a constant challenge. 

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Why us?

This article explains how to use WEDO to forward tasks that arrive through incoming calls at the reception desk. Distributing tasks from reception via WEDO has the following advantages:

* Written record of the different requests
* Delegation to the right people
* Process without any handwritten notes or post-it notes
* Comments in case of questions

## Enter a phone request as a task

You can enter a customer’s request as a task that will appear in your list of tasks to perform: 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2015_10_diapositive1_e1541092196550_6875e4d0cd.png)

## Delegate the task to the right person

According to the task, you can assign it directly to the right person: 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2015_10_diapositive2_e1541092217194_796f9a8c67.png)

## Comments in case of questions

If your colleague has a question, he can simply write it in the comments section:

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2015_10_diapositive3_e1541092292413_3a77c88414.png)

You will be notified, and you will be able to answer directly:

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2015_10_diapositive4_e1541092246284_fc475b2fdc.png)

## Traceability of discussions concerning a task

All questions and answers linked to a task leave a written record in the comments section:

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2015_10_diapositive5_e1541092267716_5a9cfaf9da.png)

Validated tasks are automatically archived to keep historical records.

## Conclusion

Thanks to WEDO, the person who picks up the phone at the reception desk can send the information to the right people, in a quick and simple manner. All this without having to move or write post-it notes. Communication between employees is also improved with the possibility of commenting on tasks. 

Delegate requests that arrive by phone without having to use post-it notes and without wasting time. 

A receptionist speaking on the phone in front of a wall with decorative panels, overlaid with the text “WEDO for reception desk calls” and “Use case”

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WEDO to manage reception desk phone calls

Trello

Asana

Decisions

Monday.com

eSéances

MS Teams

MS Planner

OneNote

Every day, we juggle a series of tasks, from answering emails and attending meetings all the way to cooking dinner or finally folding that pile of laundry staring us down for days. Task management is everywhere around us, whether we realize it or not. 

But here's the catch: managing tasks is more than checking boxes. It's making sure the right boxes are checked at the right time, by the right people.

For individuals, good task management can mean less stress and more time to spend on what matters most to them. For teams and organizations, it's the difference between controlled chaos and seamless collaboration. When done well, task management becomes a superpower, moving businesses toward growth and ensuring projects are delivered on time (and with fewer sleepless nights).

In this guide, we're going to explore strategies, tools, and best practices that turn task management into a fine-tuned system. Whether you're wrangling your own to-do list or leading a team toward big goals, this can be your roadmap to staying on top of your game. 

Let's get started!


The Ultimate Guide to Task Management: Strategies, Tools, and Best Practices

![Illustration showing the integration between WEDO and Microsoft Teams. On the left, the WEDO interface with agenda items; on the right, an active Teams video meeting.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/wedo_teams_en_3bc984dd21.png)

[Microsoft Teams](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software) has become the default meeting room for many organizations. It’s fast, reliable, and deeply integrated into daily workflows. But it’s not built to manage the full lifecycle of a meeting.

It connects participants in real time, but once the call ends, that connection stops. The agenda, decisions, action items, and shared documents? They live elsewhere. Often in people’s inboxes, personal notes, or not at all.

Teams provides the space to talk. What it doesn’t provide is structure. And without structure, even the most productive conversations can get lost in follow-up.

That’s where [WEDO](https://wedo.com/features) comes in.

By integrating directly into Microsoft Teams, WEDO brings full meeting management into the same space where the meeting takes place. From setting the agenda to assigning tasks and locking the minutes, WEDO turns every meeting into a complete workflow, with nothing falling through the cracks.

## WEDO Brings Meeting Structure Into Microsoft Teams

For most teams, the moment a meeting is scheduled in Teams, the scramble begins: backchannel messages, scattered agendas, last-minute doc sharing. People show up uncertain about what’s being discussed or why they’re even in the room.

This kind of disjointed preparation wastes time, drains energy, and turns meetings into something people get through, not something they contribute to.

WEDO changes that without requiring a new system or process. Once added to a Teams workspace, it becomes a tab inside the meeting channel. From there, everything starts to come together.

You don’t need to switch platforms or introduce a new system. Instead, WEDO adds the structure Teams lacks, directly inside the interface your team already uses. From there, you can do everything you need to run an effective meeting:

- Build a shared agenda
- Collect input from attendees
- Attach relevant documents
- Assign roles and clarify objectives
- Launch votes or approval blocks when needed

And none of it happens in a vacuum. Every topic is tracked, every file is in context, and every decision has a place to live, without ever leaving Teams.

This integration allows meetings to move from preparation to execution without breaking flow. No toggling between apps. No chasing files in email threads. Just one workspace where discussion and documentation stay connected.

![Screenshot of the WEDO app in Microsoft Teams showing a list of upcoming meetings with date, status, and participants, plus a form to add a new meeting.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/wedo_meetings_teams_en_caa3e23498.png)

For teams that already rely on Microsoft Teams to collaborate, WEDO fills a very specific and often overlooked gap: it gives the meeting lifecycle a defined start, middle, and end, without needing to leave the environment people are already working in.

::button-primary[How to integrate WEDO with Teams]{link="https://help.wedo.com/en/articles/48757-integrate-wedo-into-microsoft-teams"}

## Keep the Meeting on Track, and Make It Count

Once the meeting begins, WEDO stays open in the Teams tab, right alongside the call, so everything stays in context. The agenda isn’t something people saw once in a calendar invite. It’s right there, visible and active, guiding the discussion as it unfolds.

As the conversation moves forward, so does the documentation. Notes are written live. Tasks are created in real time, with deadlines and assignees. Decisions are recorded directly under the item they relate to.

This kind of live collaboration creates clarity in the moment. No one’s wondering what was said or who’s responsible for what. And if alignment is needed on the spot, voting blocks allow participants to weigh in and move forward without delays or email follow-ups.

The collaboration feels natural because it’s happening where the conversation is happening, in the same interface, with the same people, in real time.

WEDO makes meetings easier to follow *while they’re happening*, not just easier to summarize afterward. Which means less confusion, fewer follow-ups, and more time spent moving work forward instead of revisiting what was already covered.

## After the Call Ends, the Work Continues

The real test of a meeting isn’t how much was discussed, it’s what happens after.

Without structure, even productive conversations lose momentum. Tasks get forgotten. Decisions blur. The same topics resurface week after week, because no one can find the original context.

WEDO closes that loop, *still inside Teams.*

Once the meeting ends, every task, note, decision, and document stays exactly where it belongs. Meeting minutes aren’t buried in a shared drive or manually rewritten after the fact, they’re already done. You can lock the report to preserve its integrity, and request electronic signatures directly from within the platform, whether you need SES, AES, or qualified signatures with legal weight.

Tasks remain connected to the specific agenda item they came from. If someone needs to review why a decision was made, they don’t have to guess. They can open the meeting, find the topic, see the discussion, and track the resulting action, all without leaving Teams.

That kind of traceability builds accountability. People know what they’re responsible for. Nothing slips through the cracks. And when you come back to the next meeting, the conversation can move forward instead of starting over.

WEDO makes that continuity automatic. The meeting doesn’t disappear once the call ends. It becomes part of a living record the whole team can rely on.

## Control, Privacy, and a Clear Line of Ownership

![Map of Europe highlighting Switzerland with markers for Zurich and Geneva. Text: “Your data is safely stored in Swiss data centers located in Zurich and Geneva.”](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/data_storage_en_16a2492132.png)

Bringing [WEDO](https://wedo.com/integrations/ms-teams) into Microsoft Teams does more than streamline your meetings. It reinforces trust in how your information is handled.

Even while operating within the Teams interface, WEDO keeps all meeting data, like notes, documents, tasks, and decisions, under its own roof. Content is stored securely on servers located in Switzerland, where it remains subject to WEDO’s strict data protection policies and your organization’s governance standards. No data is shared with Microsoft. No content is duplicated or processed outside the WEDO environment.

This separation is important. Many collaboration tools prioritize integration at the expense of ownership, but WEDO takes the opposite approach. It offers full interoperability with Microsoft Teams without relinquishing control over your content. That means you can collaborate in real time without compromising on confidentiality, data residency, or compliance.

For organizations working in sensitive environments, whether legal, financial, public sector, or research-focused, knowing exactly where information is stored, who can access it, and how long it’s retained isn’t a preference. It’s a requirement.

WEDO helps you meet that requirement without extra complexity. Meeting content stays visible and accessible to the right people while remaining protected and centralized under one secure system. Teams provides the space for discussion. WEDO ensures the record is complete, accurate, and entirely yours.

## The Meeting Space Is Only Half the Equation

Microsoft Teams gives you a place to talk. WEDO gives you the structure to make it count.

From preparation to follow-up, WEDO fills the operational gaps that Teams doesn’t address. Agendas stay visible, decisions are documented in real time, and tasks remain tied to the conversations that created them. Everything lives in one place, connected to the meeting, and accessible to the people who need it.

And because WEDO keeps your data under your control, you can collaborate with confidence, without compromising on ownership, privacy, or clarity.

If your team already runs on Microsoft Teams, [WEDO](https://wedo.com/features) doesn’t ask you to change how you work. It simply makes every meeting easier to run, easier to track, and harder to forget.[Try WEDO for free today](https://wedo.com/demo) and turn every meeting into something you can build on.

Discover how WEDO brings complete meeting management into Microsoft Teams, streamlining agendas, notes, and action items in one integrated workspace.

Graphic titled “WEDO + Microsoft Teams.” Shows an online meeting with several participants, WEDO agenda items, and icons for microphone, calendar, and meeting.

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WEDO + Microsoft Teams: What Your Meetings Were Missing

If your meetings are dragging or worse, ending with more confusion than clarity, the problem probably started before anyone joined the call. Most teams don’t struggle with talking. They struggle with focus. And that starts with how you plan the meeting.

An effective meeting agenda is what keeps the conversation on track, the goals in sight, and the meeting time under control. Without it, you’re relying on memory, improvisation, and hope.

In this post, we’re breaking down how to create an agenda that works. Not one that just fills space, but one that drives outcomes. You’ll learn how to define your purpose, choose the right amount of time, structure discussion points, and set your team up for real progress.

## What Is a Meeting Agenda, Really?

Before we move forward, let’s clarify what the meeting agenda even is. A meeting agenda outlines what you’re going to talk about, in what order, and how much time you’ll spend on each topic. But more than that, it’s a tool for making meetings intentional.

At its best, a meeting agenda does three things:

- **Clarifies the purpose** of the meeting
- **Guides the discussion** so people stay on topic
- **Keeps the meeting time in check**

It also gives everyone a chance to prepare, so you're not spending half the call just getting people up to speed. Whether it’s two bullet points or a fully structured outline, a meeting agenda should help your team move forward, not just fill the hour.

![Infographic titled “What to Include in a Productive Meeting Agenda.” Lists six elements: purpose, items with outcomes, time estimates, item owners, facilitator role, and prep/documents.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/what_to_include_in_a_productive_meeting_agenda_en_0a88ad8f42.png)

## Define the Purpose Before You Write a Word

No agenda should start with “what should we talk about?” It should start with why you’re meeting in the first place.

That purpose is the anchor. It’s what helps you decide who to invite, what to include, and how to guide the discussion. A vague goal like “check in on progress” doesn’t give anyone a reason to show up prepared. A clear purpose like “agree on final pricing structure for Q3 launch” tells everyone what the finish line looks like.

If you can’t define the goal, don’t create the agenda, cancel the meeting. That’s not a failure. It’s a time-saving win. So before you even think about listing topics, write down the outcome you’re aiming for. Then build everything else around it.

## Align the Agenda with the Meeting Type

Not every meeting needs a ten-point plan. Some need structure. Others need space. The key is knowing the difference.

Before you create an agenda, take a step back and ask: **What kind of meeting is this?**

A quick check-in? A decision-making session? A team-wide deep dive? Each of these requires a different level of detail, pacing, and time commitment. Cramming the same structure into every format is how short meetings turn long, and long meetings turn painful.

For example:

- **One-on-ones** work best with a few open-ended prompts and room for discussion.
- **Project reviews** need clearly defined talking points and time frames.
- **Brainstorming sessions** should include guardrails but leave flexibility for idea flow.
- **Decision-focused meetings** benefit from a tight agenda that outlines key questions, owners, and expectations.

A productive meeting agenda doesn’t just list topics, but matches the format to the purpose and fits within a realistic amount of time. If the structure doesn’t support the outcome, the meeting won’t either.

## Break Down Topics into Actionable Segments

A list of discussion topics isn’t a meeting agenda. Not a useful one, anyway.

If you want your meetings to stay focused and lead to real outcomes, each item on the agenda needs to be actionable. That means going beyond labels like “budget,” “product update,” or “customer feedback.” Those are categories, not direction.

Start by reworking broad topics into clear, outcome-driven prompts. For example:

- Instead of **“budget,”** write **“Finalize Q3 campaign allocations”**
- Instead of **“product update,”** use **“Decide whether feature X is ready for rollout”**
- Instead of **“customer feedback,”** try **“Identify top 3 issues from support tickets to prioritize next sprint”**

This shift does two things:

1. It gives participants a clear sense of what they’re expected to weigh in on.
2. It makes it easier to tell when the discussion is finished, because there’s a decision, answer, or action coming out of it.

Framing your agenda around prompts like “What do we need to decide?” or “What’s blocking us from moving forward?” turns your meeting into a working session, not a wandering conversation. And if a topic doesn’t have a clear outcome? It probably doesn’t belong on the agenda. At least not this time.

A good rule of thumb: If you’re adding an item to the meeting agenda, ask yourself what needs to happen as a result of talking about it. If there’s no clear answer, it might not belong in the meeting.

## Estimate Time Frames Thoughtfully

Time is one of the easiest things to mismanage in a meeting and one of the hardest to get back once it's gone. That’s why assigning time frames to each agenda item matters.

You don’t need to calculate down to the minute, but every agenda should include a realistic estimate of how long each item will take. This keeps the conversation moving and helps prevent less important topics from eating up the entire meeting.

Start with a rough total: How much meeting time do you actually have? Then, break it down by priority. High-impact items, like key decisions or blockers, should go earlier in the agenda and be given enough breathing room. Informational updates or less urgent items can come later and be time-boxed more tightly.

For example:

- 5 minutes: Quick status update
- 20 minutes: Discuss launch blockers and assign owners
- 10 minutes: Align on messaging changes for the sales deck
- 5 minutes: Review next steps and assign action items

It’s also smart to build in a small buffer at the end. That way, if a discussion runs long, you don’t lose the final five minutes that should’ve gone to confirming who’s doing what. Being deliberate about time shows respect for your team’s schedule and forces you to clarify priorities, which leads to [more productive meetings](https://wedo.com/features/meetings), even when time is short.

## Assign Roles and Owners Before the Meeting Starts

Every agenda item should have a clear owner. This doesn’t mean one person has to do all the talking, but someone should be responsible for introducing the topic, sharing any necessary context, and guiding that part of the discussion. Without ownership, conversations tend to stall or drift.

Clarify this before the meeting begins:

- Who’s leading each topic?
- Who’s taking notes?
- Who’s responsible for capturing action items and decisions?

Assigning roles doesn’t need to be complicated. In small, recurring meetings, it may be the same person every time. In larger or cross-functional sessions, it helps to rotate responsibilities or assign based on who brings the most context.

You’ll also want to identify a facilitator. Their job is to keep the agenda on track, manage the flow of conversation, and step in if time runs over or discussion gets stuck. In some cases, this will be the meeting organizer. In others, it may be a neutral lead who can keep things focused.

When people know what they’re responsible for going in, they show up prepared and your meeting runs smoother from the first minute.

## Share the Agenda Early and Revisit It Live

Once the agenda is built, don’t keep it to yourself. The earlier your team sees it, the more effective the meeting will be.

Circulating the agenda ahead of time, ideally the day before, gives participants space to review what’s on the table and prepare accordingly. It also opens the door for feedback. Someone might catch a missing item, suggest a better order, or offer input that helps sharpen the discussion points before the clock starts ticking.

Sharing the agenda in advance sets expectations. It tells your team: here’s what we’re here to do, and here’s how we’re going to use our time. No one should be hearing the meeting’s purpose for the first time when the call begins.

Once the meeting starts, revisit the agenda briefly. Ask:

- Does this plan still make sense?
- Are there any last-minute changes that need to be acknowledged or reprioritized?

Even a quick check-in helps anchor the group before diving in. And if something comes up mid-meeting that wasn’t on the agenda? Note it, park it, and keep the meeting focused on what matters now. You can always address new issues at the end or in a follow-up.

The agenda doesn’t just guide the meeting, it helps protect it. From distraction. From drift. From wasted time.

## Use the Agenda to Drive Follow-Through

The meeting might end, but the work rarely does. That’s why your agenda should do more than guide the conversation, it should support what happens next.

As the meeting unfolds, capture notes directly within the agenda itself. Add action items beneath each section, tag owners, and clarify deadlines while the details are still fresh. If you’re using a tool like [WEDO](https://wedo.com/features), this can happen in real time, no need to create a separate recap after the fact.

It also helps reduce duplication. Instead of rewriting what was discussed into a new doc or follow-up email, the agenda becomes the single source of truth. Everyone knows where to find the context, the decisions, and what they’re responsible for.

And when the next meeting rolls around? You’ve got a record to refer back to and a head start on planning the next agenda.

![nfographic titled “The Agenda Lifecycle.” Shows seven steps from planning to follow-through: define the goal, match structure to meeting type, assign time and owners, share early, use it live, track actions, and continue next meeting.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/the_agenda_lifecycle_en_e5a828bf8f.png)

## How WEDO Helps You Build Better Agendas

Everything in this guide becomes easier and more consistent when you use the right tool.

[WEDO](https://wedo.com/features) is built for teams who want to stop repeating conversations and start making real progress. With WEDO, you can plan, structure, and manage your meeting agenda all in one place, before, during, and after the call.

Here’s how it helps:

- **Create and share agendas fast** using a [collaborative workspace](https://wedo.com/blog/why-collaborative-task-management-is-key-to-team-productivity) that’s linked to each meeting
- **Assign owners and time frames** to every item, so responsibilities are clear and the meeting stays focused
- **Take notes in real time** directly inside the agenda view, no switching between tabs or apps
- **Track decisions and action items** as they happen, and carry them forward to the next meeting
- **Revisit agendas and outcomes** easily, with everything stored and searchable in one shared timeline

No more scattered notes, lost follow-ups, or guessing what happened last time. WEDO makes it easy to build habits around structured, productive meetings, and to keep your team aligned every step of the way.

Ready to see it in action? [WEDO](https://wedo.com/features) helps you turn better planning into better outcomes. [Try it out for free](https://wedo.com/signup) and see how much time and momentum you can save.

Learn how to create a productive meeting agenda that keeps discussions focused, decisions clear, and meeting time under control.

“How to Create a Productive Meeting Agenda.” Pink background with a blue icon showing a paper and pencil.

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How to Create a Productive Meeting Agenda

In the fast-paced world of administrative management, executive assistants play a crucial role. The Swiss army knives of any organization juggle many tasks and deadlines while supervising those of others. Faced with these challenges, they often find themselves overwhelmed by routine, repetitive responsibilities. We immersed ourselves in the daily lives of 6 executive assistants who use the WEDO platform to understand the workings of their organization, the challenges they face, and the tools they have put in place to facilitate their management.

According to our study, the most time-consuming tasks for executive assistants revolve mainly around administrative functions. These activities, while necessary, tend to monopolize a significant proportion of their working time, preventing them from concentrating fully on more crucial aspects of their role, such as operational and strategic development.

Among the most time-consuming tasks in their job descriptions, the executive assistants surveyed identify the following:

**1. Meeting preparation:** preparing agendas and presentation documents, taking and sharing minutes, following up on decisions and tasks delegated at meetings,

**2. Diary management and meeting organization:** planning and coordination of appointments, team meetings, and conferences, taking care to avoid scheduling conflicts,
**3. Document preparation and management:** drafting, proofreading, and organizing important documents such as reports, presentations, correspondence and contracts,

**4. Project coordination:** managing and following up on specific projects, liaising between different departments, and meeting deadlines.

Internal and external communications, administrative support, and human resources management closely follow those.

## How to lighten the administrative load for an executive assistant?

When asked what tools were used to monitor collaboration before WEDO was integrated, the most common programs were Outlook, Word (for taking minutes), and Excel. However, these tools had significant limitations. Respondents reported difficulties related to the cross-functionality of information between different team members. For example, these tools were not conducive to **active, real-time collaboration when taking PVs**, making this task often cumbersome and time-consuming, and necessitating numerous round-trips. The systematic use of e-mail to distribute these documents wasted considerable time without guaranteeing effective communication.

Furthermore, the limited nature of these tools prevented efficient tracking of tasks and projects. Users faced significant challenges maintaining a clear, up-to-date overview of projects. In short, although these tools are widespread and familiar, their use in team collaboration and project management needs to be improved.

This situation underlines the importance of cross-functional tools and solutions to lighten the administrative workload. With the implementation of WEDO, the executive assistants surveyed were able to optimize their administrative processes.

### 1. Meeting preparation and management

![computerized agenda for real-time note-taking](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/reunion_ENEN_aad2ef7f0e.png)

One of the most time-consuming aspects of the job is the preparation of meetings. With WEDO, executive assistants benefit from automated management and considerable time savings in preparation and follow-up. The platform enables uniform management of minutes, clear distribution of post-meeting tasks, and automatic tracking of topics from one session to the next. Users report an average time saving of 55% for these tasks.

![save time spent on meetings](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/55_ENEN_83c8604c19.png)

WEDO's meeting module lets you integrate blocks of paragraphs, tasks, file attachments, personal notes, votes and signatures, among others.

![testimonial Regula Oberdorfer](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Regula_Oberdorfer_ENEN_1a54d3c30f.png)

### 2. Project management and task tracking

![efficient task management](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/tasks_ENEN_be99588a59.png)

Project management and tracking represent another major challenge. WEDO simplifies this task by offering clear delegation possibilities, the creation of checklist templates to standardize processes, and real-time task tracking. This leads to better prioritization and more efficient day-to-day management.

![testimonials Aline Volery and Nicole Thalmann](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/testimonials_Aline_et_Nicole_ENEN_11a8dc6cff.png)

### Use case: facilitating HR processes and the transmission of specifications

When executive assistants are involved in HR processes, the integration of WEDO proves to be a major asset. The platform makes it possible to standardize on-boarding and off-boarding procedures by means of specific checklists. These checklists, drawn up for each stage of the process, automatically assign the relevant tasks to the team members concerned. This method ensures structured, efficient management of personnel transitions, eliminating the operational uncertainties often associated with the question "What steps should I take?".

By simplifying these processes, WEDO not only eases the workload for HR managers, but also contributes to a clear, documented handover of tasks and knowledge from one employee to the next.

![simplified hr processes](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Modeles_checklists_ENEN_fdf58af70f.png)

One of the decisive advantages of WEDO, highlighted by our management assistants, is the ease with which recruitment interviews can be documented in real time. Each exchange can be recorded directly in a standardized (and customized if required) agenda, enabling these interactions to be saved methodically and instantaneously.

### 4. Transmission of information

WEDO lets you link documents to tasks or meetings, ensuring that all the necessary information is in the right place. Global search makes it easy to retrieve documents, and to find a specific file based on a keyword found in the PDF file.

In terms of communication, WEDO users particularly appreciate the immediate visibility of entries and the ability to restrict access to certain information.

![Alexandra Locher](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Alexandra_locher_ENEN_e53527e95c.png)

**We asked our users to rate the platform on a scale of 1 to 10, to qualify the positive impact WEDO has on their daily tasks.**

![Best collaborative software for executive assistant productivity and organizations](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/preparation_reunion_note_ENEN_1_d92c7629a1.png)

![Alicia Aubert](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Alicia_Aubert_ENEN_5d3644b8f7.png)

Executive assistants can greatly ease their workload by equipping themselves with a collaborative platform. Do you have any questions or doubts about WEDO's compatibility with your needs? We'll be happy to give you a short 30-minute demonstration.

::button-primary[Try WEDO for free]{link="/signup"}

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}

In the fast-paced world of administrative management, executive assistants play a crucial role. The Swiss army knives of any organization juggle many tasks and deadlines while supervising those of others

An executive assistant speaking on the phone with colleagues blurred in the background, overlaid with the text “How to make an executive assistant’s daily life easier” and “Use case”

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Making daily life easier for executive assistants

Held once a month, quarter, or half-year, as required, these privileged meetings provide a confidential and open communication space, encouraging in-depth discussion of individual and collective objectives. They create a valuable opportunity to discuss each employee's specific challenges and needs, fostering better mutual understanding. Moreover, these meetings provide a framework for recognizing individual achievements and contributions, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and belonging to the team. Thanks to these personalized exchanges, bilateral meetings contribute to more effective personnel management, more focused professional growth, and solid, fulfilling working relationships.

## Key topics for a bilateral meeting

During a bilateral meeting between a team leader and an employee, several key topics must be addressed to ensure effective communication and optimal management. Here are some of these topics:

### 1. Ongoing assessment
Discuss objectives for the current period and assess progress and results achieved. Identify successes and areas requiring further attention.

### 2. Professional Development
Explore opportunities for employee development, training, and professional growth. Identify skills to be strengthened and possible progression paths.

### 3. Feedback
Exchange constructive feedback on work performed, highlighting strengths and addressing areas for improvement. Encourage open dialogue to stimulate continuous learning.

### 4. Needs and Challenges
Allow employees to express their needs regarding resources, assistance, or support to accomplish their tasks. Discuss possible obstacles and find solutions together.

### 5. Work-Life Balance
Address workload-related issues, stress levels, and work-life balance. Identify measures to support employee well-being.

### 6. Projects and Initiatives
Discuss future projects, new initiatives, and potential employee contributions. Encourage active participation and creativity.

### 7. Management feedback
Offer employees the opportunity to share their feelings about management, work methods, and team communication. Foster an environment of trust and continuous improvement.

### 8. Focus on Vision
Ensure that the employee understands and adheres to the team or company's overall vision, values, and goals.

### 9. Resources and Support
Identify the resources required for the associate's success and ensure that he/she has the proper support to carry out his/her tasks.

### 10. Long-Term Planning
Examine longer-term perspectives and discuss the employee's career aspirations and how these align with team or organizational goals.

_"Enabling discussions in bilateral meetings, in a more intimate way and with a long-term vision, brings a notable benefit to the employee's career in the company. It makes them feel valued, heard and recognized above all. Setting clear, long-term objectives is a real motivator for them."_

**Marie Rudaz-Jaeggi**, *[AmbitionSuccess.ch](http://ambitionsuccess.ch/)* - MORGES

Team leaders and employees can establish fruitful collaboration, foster professional development, and maintain a positive working climate by addressing these topics regularly and in-depth at bilateral meetings.

## Use WEDO to keep track of your bilateral meetings!

![1_1 ENFR.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/1_1_ENFR_78b8a89537.png)

With WEDO, you can prepare your agenda jointly with your manager or colleague. In this way, each participant can prepare the questions or topics to be addressed.

Generally speaking, the agenda items for a bilateral meeting are recurrent. WEDO enables you to set the topics so that they recur from one time to the next to ensure that discussions are followed up and that objectives evolve.

Once completed, the minutes are locked and remain available to both participants for consultation.

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}

During a bilateral meeting between a team leader and an employee, several key topics must be addressed to ensure effective communication and optimal management.

A smiling person listening to their counterpart in a one-on-one meeting, overlaid with the text “Topics for a one-on-one meeting” and “Use case”

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