Product Launch

From Blur to Breakthrough: Better POA Meetings

Plan of Action (POA) meetings are a cornerstone of life sciences commercial strategy execution. When done right, they can align teams, ignite motivation, and lay the groundwork for executional excellence. But more often than not, they fall short. 

Instead of acting as a springboard for success, too many POAs become a blur of back-to-back presentations, overstuffed agendas, and glazed-over reps just trying to survive until dinner. By the end, leaders and attendees alike are left wondering: Did anything actually stick? 

We’ve been there. We’ve led the meetings and sat in the audience. We know how quickly a POA can go from impactful to forgettable. But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

Here’s how to make your POA meeting count—before, during, and after. 

Before the Meeting: Focus, Streamline, and Prepare 

The most powerful POAs don’t start on Day One—they start well before anyone walks into the room. 

First, get clear on the priorities. Ask yourself: What are the three to five things that matter most right now? If your answer is “everything,” you risk losing your audience before the meeting even begins. When everything is important, nothing is. 

Resist the temptation to fill every slot on the agenda with stakeholder presentations. Yes, you’ve got a captive audience, and yes, the meeting is expensive to host. But an overloaded agenda doesn’t guarantee productivity. Instead, it increases cognitive fatigue and decreases retention. 

Use pre-work to set the stage. But not just any pre-work—this isn’t the time for 40-page PDFs that go unread. Instead, leverage adult learning principles: 

• Short, focused videos that communicate key concepts. 
• Micro-learning modules that take 5–10 minutes. 
• Quick assessments to check understanding before the meeting. 
• Digital tools that track completion and build accountability. 

The goal? Raise the floor. Use these tools to elevate baseline knowledge so that when people arrive, they’re ready to apply, not just absorb. 

And don’t forget tone-setting. A well-crafted welcome message, an intro video from leadership, or a motivational note can go a long way in shaping the audience’s mindset before boots hit the carpet. 

During the Meeting: Respect Time and Drive Engagement 

Client-facing teams are built to move. They thrive on energy, interaction, and relevance, not endless lectures. Too often, POA meetings stretch from early-morning breakfasts to late-night events, leaving no time to reflect or recharge. That’s a mistake. Instead, build your agenda with intention. Apply the same adult learning principles you used in the pre‑work phase: 

• Chunk content into smaller, digestible sessions. 
• Prioritize interaction over passive listening. 
• Use real-time practice, where attendees apply what they’ve learned immediately. 
• Train leaders to facilitate breakout sessions, not just deliver slide decks. 

Also, consider session pacing. Alternate between high-energy segments and slower, reflective moments to maintain engagement. Use tools like live polling, peer coaching, and small-group challenges to keep everyone active and invested. 

And here’s a rule that sounds counterintuitive: leave space. 

The most effective agendas include white space — time for debriefing, for small-group conversation, for people to think. These pauses are where connection happens, where ideas solidify, and where behavior change begins. 

Finally, build in time for recognition. Highlighting standout performance and celebrating progress reinforces priorities while boosting morale. 

After the Meeting: Reinforce to Sustain Momentum 

The meeting might end, but the message shouldn’t. 

Studies on the forgetting curve show that within days of a learning event, participants will forget up to 70% of what was shared—unless that knowledge is reinforced. That means your POA’s impact depends just as much on what happens after the meeting as what happens during it. 

Start building your post-POA strategy before the event begins. Don’t treat reinforcement as an afterthought. 

Some simple but effective tactics include: 

• Bite-sized reinforcement materials (infographics, cheat sheets, 1‑minute videos). 
• Push content sent directly to reps’ inboxes or mobile devices. 
• Short quizzes to reactivate learning and boost retention. 
• Video refreshers from presenters or leaders that revisit key messages. 

Also consider using spaced repetition—sending timely nudges and reminders over several weeks rather than all at once. This method is proven to increase memory retention and support behavior change. 

And here’s the key: don’t rely solely on front-line managers to carry the weight. While some will be exceptional at reinforcing content, others may be stretched thin or unsure of how to prioritize it. By creating a centralized reinforcement plan, you level the playing field and ensure consistency across all teams. 

When reinforcement is structured and systematic, it does more than remind client-facing teams of what they learned—it translates that knowledge into action in the field. 

POAs That Drive Performance 

POA meetings can be a catalyst to performance. To get there, you don’t need more content, you need the right content, delivered in a way that resonates and reinforces with intention. Here is the formula:

• Before: Focus on what matters, use adult learning principles in pre-work, and build baseline knowledge early. 
• During: Respect your audience’s time and energy, prioritize engagement over information, and create space to think. 
• After: Reinforce key takeaways consistently, support front-line leaders, and ensure execution sticks. 

By rethinking your approach across these three phases, you’ll drive greater engagement, alignment, and most importantly—real behavior change in the field. Because the real power of a POA isn’t in what’s said—it’s in what sticks.