The foundation of a successful organization lies in its ability to consistently coordinate and generate action that leads to the right outcomes, ultimately delivering the value promised to clients. Achieving this requires more than hard work—it requires precision in how people communicate, collaborate, and commit to results.

Two key components that drive high-velocity coordination within an organization are:

1. Understanding that the Purpose of a Meeting is to “Generate Action”

Meetings should not exist merely to share information or talk in circles—they should be intentionally designed to create alignment, commitment, and momentum. The goal is to leave every meeting with clarity about:

• What decisions were made
• What actions must follow
• Who owns each action
• By when those actions will be completed

When meetings consistently produce clear outcomes and next steps, they become a strategic tool for execution. This clarity eliminates ambiguity and reduces the need for excessive follow-up emails, saving time and energy across the board.

2. Understanding that the Purpose of an Email is to “Coordinate Action”

Email, on the other hand, should be used as a tool for confirming, clarifying, or updating actions—not replacing decision-making or planning. It is ideal for:

• Assigning or tracking tasks
• Following up on commitments
• Sharing essential updates that support execution

When organizations clearly distinguish between when to meet and when to email, communication becomes more effective and less overwhelming. Emails become purposeful and actionable, rather than a flood of noise.

Why This Matters

When teams blur the lines between generating and coordinating action, inefficiencies take hold. Teams fall into the trap of using email to make decisions, or meetings to just “update” each other, instead of driving results. This leads to:

• Meeting fatigue
• Inbox overload
• Lack of clarity and accountability

But when meetings are focused on generating action and emails are focused on coordinating that action, organizations operate with greater speed, clarity, and accountability. As a result, email volume naturally drops because:

• Decisions and commitments are made in meetings
• Responsibilities are owned without needing to cc everyone
• Progress is tracked with precision rather than scattered conversations

In summary, high-performing organizations succeed because they master the subtle but powerful difference between generating and coordinating action. When these two communication channels are used intentionally, teams move faster, confusion diminishes, and the organization can reliably deliver on its promises to clients.