3 minutes max. · Episode 35 · Meetings and time
Timeboxing Meets AI
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About this episode
- Episode
- #35 of 48
- Published
- 5 November 2025
- Length
- 2:45 min
- Series
- Meetings and time
- Hosts
- Andre Ottlik and Jules (AI)
In short
Some people have no sense of timing, and that shows in meetings. This episode gives you moderation techniques for more focus and better contributions. Clear outcomes and timeboxing improve your meetings, while you still leave time for rapport.
Three things to try
- At the start, restate why you are meeting, the agenda, the outcomes, the roles and what you expect from participants.
- Set a time frame for each agenda item in advance and make the timer visible.
- Plan time for rapport too, such as check-ins and check-outs.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
- 00:00 Andre Ottlik
- I've got a 3 minute time box for each of these episodes. In my workshops I've been pretty strict about timing for years. Usually there's a publicly visible timer running during every exercise. It's like a mini deadline for meeting to do's.
- 00:17 Jules
- That must not be for everyone, right?
- 00:19 Andre Ottlik
- Yeah, that's true. Some people have no sense of timing at all. And that's exactly what we're trying to change today.
- 00:26 Andre Ottlik
- Welcome to the Wednesday episode of 3 minutes max. Human Skills in the Age of AI. I'm Andre Ottlik.
- 00:32 Jules
- And I'm Jules Andres, AI co-host. Today: Moderation techniques you can test in the next 48 hours for more focus and better contributions.
- 00:42 Andre Ottlik
- To prepare for better moderation skills you should recall our previous 3 minutes max. episodes on the topics of senses, emotions, feedback and rapport. Because you'll need all the competencies for better moderation. If you've done a good preparation as described in our Monday episode today, you can fully concentrate on moderating. Tip one for today is: frame the meeting correctly. That means after entering the meeting in a good emotional state and building rapport with the participants, make it clear once again why you're all in the meeting, what the agenda and the outcomes should be, what roles everyone takes and what you expect from the participants. Should they become creative, listen attentively, Interrupt you? How can the group help you effectively reach the result?
- 01:34 Jules
- Tip two relates to Timeboxing. Decide on a time frame for each agenda item in advance. Then comes today's tech gadget: a timer. Whether it's digital on an online whiteboard, an app in a zoom call, or on an iPad in the conference room, make the time visible. This helps you as a moderator tremendously in politely interrupting the conversation if needed and steering it back on topic concerning time.
- 01:58 Andre Ottlik
- Something like okay, we only have two minutes left for this point. Could you two discuss this later among yourselves?
- 02:07 Andre Ottlik
- Make it a habit to consciously moderate every meeting. Clear outcomes and timeboxing will drastically improve them.
- 02:15 Jules
- Of course, not every meeting should only be about absolute time optimization. Also, plan time for building rapport, like with check ins and check outs, or plan meetings explicitly for socializing.
- 02:27 Andre Ottlik
- Follow 3 minutes max rate us in your podcast app and message me on LinkedIn if you or your team have questions about this topic.
- 02:35 Andre Ottlik
- On Friday, we'll discuss how you can help other meeting owners with better questions. See you.
More on Meetings and time
- #34AI-Powered Meeting Prep
- #35Timeboxing Meets AI (this episode)
- #36Smart AI Meeting Hacks
- #37Eisenhower's AI Focus
- #38Pareto's AI Time Saver
- #39Timeboxing with AI
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