Discover how pre-reads improve meeting efficiency, enhance discussions, and lead to better decision-making outcomes.
A pre-read is a document or set of materials shared with meeting participants before the actual meeting takes place. It typically contains key information, data, or discussion points relevant to the upcoming meeting's agenda. Think of it as a preview of what's to come, giving attendees a heads-up on the topics to be covered. Pre-reads can take various forms, such as reports, slideshows, articles, or even short videos, depending on the nature of the meeting and the information to be conveyed.
Why is it Needed?
Pre-reads are essential for maximizing meeting efficiency and effectiveness. By providing information in advance, participants can come prepared with questions, insights, and ideas. This preparation allows the meeting to focus on decision-making and productive discussions rather than spending time on basic information sharing. Pre-reads help level the playing field, ensuring all attendees have access to the same information before the meeting begins.
They also help filter and prioritize information, allowing participants to digest complex topics at their own pace before engaging in group discussions.
What is the scope of a pre-read?
Pre-reads are more than just a way to share information – when used effectively, they become powerful tools for driving alignment, fostering critical thinking, and speeding up decision-making. A well-crafted pre-read can elevate the quality of meetings, leading to more innovative solutions and stronger collaboration.
We understand that meetings aren’t just a time block. There are a plethora of pre-, in, and post-meeting tasks involved in driving an effective meeting. And how significant the groundwork is that starts with meeting agendas.
That’s why we are building the Video Calling App - it helps product and engineering teams capture meeting context, automate tasks, and focus on high-impact work.
VCA’s AI-powered smart agenda acts as a meeting precursor, helping you draft well-structured agendas by factoring in various elements. It pulls in meeting recaps, shared docs/pre-reads, messages from Slack's "remind me" feature, parking lot items, and more. This way, you've got a comprehensive agenda that sets you up for a productive meeting right from the start.
We are still in the early stages and rolling out access every day. If that sounds interesting, join the waitlist or fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch super soon.
Video Calling App puts all the best practices you just read into action. With VCA, product and engineering teams can capture meeting context, automate workflows, and keep everyone focused only on high-impact work.