How to use the online timer
Thirty minutes is a common default length for a meeting, though it's worth treating as a starting assumption to challenge rather than an automatic setting — plenty of meetings booked for thirty minutes could genuinely be handled in fifteen, or in a written message that doesn't need everyone's calendar cleared at the same time.
An agenda decided before the meeting starts, even a rough one, makes far better use of the thirty minutes than an open-ended conversation that finds its direction as it goes — without one, discussion tends to expand to fill whatever time's available regardless of how much actually needed covering.
Ending a few minutes early, with clear next steps or action items agreed before everyone disperses, prevents a meeting from either overrunning its slot or ending vaguely with nobody quite sure what was decided. A visible timer running through the meeting, particularly for the person chairing it, helps keep discussion moving at a pace that respects the thirty minutes rather than assuming it'll naturally sort itself out.
Common questions
Is thirty minutes always the right length for a meeting?
Not necessarily — it's a common default worth questioning. Some meetings booked for thirty minutes could be handled in fifteen or as a written message instead.
How do I stop a meeting running over its thirty minutes?
An agenda set in advance and a visible timer during the meeting both help keep discussion moving at a pace that fits the time available.
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