When we know there's a lot of material to cover in an appointment with one of our Collegewise families, we'll start the meeting by saying,
"I have my list of things I want to cover in the next hour. But before we start, what are the things you want to make sure we talk about today?"
Then we write down whatever they say on our agenda. If we think the topic would be better handled at a different time, we can say so, explain why, and ask if they'd be OK tabling it for a future meeting.
Starting meetings like this helps you get a sense of just how much you'll need to cover in the allotted time. It also lets the other people know that you're not just here for you; you're here for them, too–in fact, the first thing you're doing is asking what they want to talk about.
They'll know you're not just going to wait until the end of the meeting to ask what questions they have.
It sets a good tone of collaboration for the meeting and makes everyone feel comfortable that they'll be heard. You'll know right away if there are any contentious subjects that you need to address.
And most importantly, it demonstrates that you're prepared for the meeting because you've already composed a list of the things you want to discuss. They'll know you're not just winging it and that they shouldn't be, either.