A straightforward framework for creating engaging and exciting business meetings

Casey McDaniel had never been so nervous in his life.

In just ten minutes, The Meeting, as it would forever be known, would begin.  Casey had every reason to believe that his performance over the next two hours would determine the fate of his career, his financial future, and the company he had built from scratch.

How could my life have unraveled so quickly? he wondered.

In his latest page-turning work of business fiction, best-selling author Patrick Lencioni provides readers with another powerful and thought-provoking book, this one centered around a cure for the most painful yet underestimated problem of modern business: bad meetings.  And what he suggests is both simple and revolutionary.

Casey McDaniel, the founder and CEO of Yip Software, is in the midst of a problem he created, but one he doesnt know how to solve. And he doesnt know where or who to turn to for advice.  His staff cant help him; theyre as dumbfounded as he is by their tortuous meetings.

Then an unlikely advisor, Will Peterson, enters Caseys world. When he proposes an unconventional, even radical, approach to solving the meeting problem, Casey is just desperate enough to listen.

As in his other books, Lencioni provides a framework for his groundbreaking model, and makes it applicable to the real world.Death by Meeting is nothing short of a blueprint for leaders who want to eliminate waste and frustration among their teams and create environments of engagement and passion.

PATRICK LENCIONI is founder and president of The Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in executive team development and organizational health. As a consultant and keynote speaker, he has worked with thousands of senior executives in organizations ranging from Fortune 500s and high-tech start-ups to universities and nonprofits. He is the author of numerous nationally recognized books, including theNew York Times best-sellerThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

To learn more about Patrick Lencioni and his other products and services—including his newsletter and free resources—please visit www.tablegroup.com.

Introduction vii

The Fable 1

Preview 3

Part One: Flashback 5

Part Two: Plot Point 19

Part Three: Protagonist 53

Part Four: Action 69

Part Five: Resolution 173

The Model 219

The Paradox of Meetings 221

Executive Summary 223

Problem #1: Lack of Drama 226

Problem #2: Lack of Contextual Structure 233

The Biggest Challenge of All: The Myth of Too Many Meetings 250

A Final Thought on Meetings 253

The Weekly Tactical Meeting Guide 254

Acknowledgments 255

About the Author 259