What is a meeting agenda?
Updated Nov 1, 2026
Definition
A meeting agenda is a short list of the topics a meeting will cover, usually with the goal, who leads each topic and how long it should take. Shared in advance, it lets people prepare and keeps the meeting on track.
What to include
- Goal: what the meeting must decide or produce.
- Topics: in order, most important first.
- Owner and time: who leads each topic and for how long.
- Pre-reads: anything to look at beforehand.
| Topic | Lead | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Decide the EU launch date | Priya | 15 min |
| Refund flow bugs: status | Ravi | 10 min |
| Pricing page copy review | Mei | 10 min |
Agenda vs. prep brief
Agenda
What the meeting will cover, shared with everyone.
Prep brief
Background for you: what's still open, what was said before and what to ask.
How Acta helps you prepare
For an upcoming meeting, Acta writes a “Prepare for this call” brief from your earlier meetings: the goal, what to pick up from last time, what came up before and what to ask and bring. After the meeting, the notes show the topics discussed in order, with who led each one.
What is a meeting prep brief?FAQ
How far in advance should an agenda be sent?
At least a day before, so people can prepare or decide they don't need to attend.
Should every meeting have an agenda?
Any meeting that needs a decision should. If you can't write an agenda, the meeting might not be needed.