The boss drones on, your legs have lost all sensation, and the detailed sketch of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in your notebook is now sporting a luxurious moustache.

Despite wanting to work, in this meeting you can only watch helpless as minute after minute of your time ticks away while your colleagues talk in circles.

Intended to inspire long-term results, group thinking sessions are the worst – maybe even the arch nemesis of productivity. At least that’s what the experts tell The New Daily.

“It’s amazing how many senior people and their teams have this as an issue,” says Natalie Ashdown, an executive coach at Open Door Coaching and a published author.

Andrew May, CEO of The Performance Clinic, agrees.

“A lot of corporate meetings become like Days of our Lives,” he says. “It’s the same people at the same time each week talking about the same topic and having the same non-result.”

So if you’ve just spent an hour in a meeting with no outcome, here’s how to save your time – and get results.

1. Make the boss accountable

Make your boss accountable.

Those with the most power and prominence often get away with unproductive behaviour in meetings, says The Performance Clinic’s Andrew May.

If your boss breaks the rules by arriving late or frequently straying off topic, they must be held to account just like everyone else.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s the boss of the company or someone on their second day, just say, look it’s not good enough,” Mr May says.

“If Mr Big is on his mobile phone, sending text messages and taking calls, it ripples throughout the whole organisation.”

2. Be present

If you’re in the meeting, be truly present and engaged, Mr May says.

“Don’t toggle on your shares, don’t check the weather, don’t check the surf report, don’t check your Facebook,” he says. “Be in the meeting.”

3. Do you REALLY need to meet?

You must ask yourself if the meeting is providing value, Mr May says. If not, ditch it.

4. Time! 

The shorter the meeting, the better.

“Most people have one hour meetings because Microsoft Outlook has one hour appointments,” Mr May says. “It’s crazy.”

He suggests 45 minutes or less.

Narelle Lee, peak performance expert at Sydney-based The Performance Masters, says to stick to a time frame for the meeting and each topic.

“One way to make meetings productive is to start on time, irrespective of who is there, and finish at the allotted time.” says Ms Lee.

5. Set a clear objective

Business advisor at Midpoint Wealth Management John Jocys says meetings can have only one of two objectives – to inform or to decide.

Mere discussion is not a good enough reason to hold a meeting, Mr Jocys says.

For example, “Determine our Facebook strategy for September” is a clear objective, “Discuss Facebook marketing” is not.

If your objective is aimless, then the meeting will ramble instead of resulting in action.

Prepare for a speedy meeting.

5. Be prepared

Executive Coach Natalie Ashdown says to prevent directionless meetings, participants should prepare.

Agendas need to be sent out well in advance, and each attendee should be given pre-reading or background material, Ms Ashdown says.

Preparation is key. Know your role, contribute something valuable, and then get out of there.

6. Carefully select attendees

Midpoint Wealth Management’s Mr Jocys says you need to be ruthless about who you invite to your meetings, and how long they stay.

If you know someone won’t contribute or that their time would be better served elsewhere, don’t invite them. If they are only needed for one or two points, immediately dismiss them when those have been discussed.

“Perhaps they can join you via Skype or GoToMeeting, or for one specific topic,” Mr Jocys says.

8. Crowd control

Every meeting needs an effective chairperson, The Performance Masters Ms Lee says.

This person needs to keep the meeting on track, while also making sure that everyone has the opportunity to speak and feel as though they have been heard, Ms Lee says.

Be firm if discussion gets off track, and shelve unproductive or circular conversations for a later date.

9. Take minutes

Ms Lee also says that notes are a good way to work out if a meeting has been effective, and to hold everyone there accountable.

So appoint an official scribe to take minutes which concisely reflect what was discussed and lists the items that need to be actioned.

10. Follow up

Mr Jocys says there is still more work to be done once the meeting is over.

This is where your notes come into play. Stick to a handful of bullet points, let everyone know what progress has been made and what else needs to be done – and make sure it happens.

And tell them when to expect the next meeting so they can be prepared.