I’ve admired meeting stewards who will adjourn the meeting if people aren’t prepared and reconvene it later. If that person has authority and is well respected, it only has to happen once or twice, but obviously it can’t be applied everywhere.

Often, the purpose of the meeting is to get a busy VP to listen to some proposal and then say “yes.” That VP was booked solid for three weeks, and is booked solid for the next three weeks. This is his only 15 minute free time slot.

Aint no way anyone’s going to adjourn this meeting just because someone isn’t prepared.

It's nice when that works and sets a good cultural signal. Unfortunately, the more important the meeting the harder this is.