Prepare an agenda
It sounds obvious but the most essential tip is actually to draw up a schedule for each meeting. As The Muse states, this does not mean just stating the meeting will last one hour and the list of topics you want to cover: you should indicate how long will be spent on each point, then really adhere to this schedule during the meeting itself.
Put together the agenda with subordinates
If you are holding regular or repeated meetings, do not rely solely on your own judgement; consult team members too about the schedule. They might have useful comments and insights you would not think of.
Ask only relevant employees to participate
Many managers make team members sit through the whole meeting, even if most of the topics do not concern them. Evaluate whether it is really necessary for all team members to be present throughout the meeting. If not, you can divide it into smaller, more intensive sessions that only the relevant people will participate in.
Deal with the most important points at the start
Let's be honest: the situation when you are running out of time at the end of a meeting and have to omit some points will always happen. This is why it is necessary you put the most important points at the top of the agenda, and only then move on to less pressing topics.
Keep track of time
It is always good to assign someone the task of keeping an eye on the clock and reminding participants they are behind schedule and should move on to the next point. It is advisable this is not the same person who is running the meeting because the manager must focus primarily on other things.
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