It’s almost that time of the year to write about 2024…

But before then, yesterday was the last day of class, and as I reflected on the team projects I worked on this semester, one thing stood out: setting a meeting cadence.

It may seem small, but it was truly a game-changer for the teams I collaborated with and the ones that ended on a successful and well-structured note.

In one of my projects, my team and I agreed early on to meet twice a week — 1 hour on Mondays and 30 minutes on Thursdays. To be honest, we rarely used the full hour unless absolutely necessary, but having that cadence in place kept us in sync. It created a rhythm for consistent communication, sharing updates, and holding each other accountable.

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Our professor frequently challenged our ideas, which sometimes lowered our morale. However, because we had that cadence set, it gave us the space to address those challenges and regroup as a team, rather than falling apart under the pressure.

Looking back at my past work experiences, I’ve realized that projects with a clear cadence often result in better structure and outcomes. Even if the cadence isn’t fully utilized or gets adjusted later, setting it up early creates a framework that makes teamwork more effective.

What do you think? Do you agree, or do you have other strategies that help your teams succeed? I’d love to hear your thoughts!