Meeting, Call, or Workshop: How to Choose the Right Format for Better Results

Call, Meeting, or Workshop? Why the Difference Matters More Than You Think

“Is this a call or a workshop?”
How many times have you asked yourself that?

Whether it’s a project check-in, a brainstorming session, or a status update, work formats today come in all shapes and sizes. But that variety often leads to confusion. Calendars fill up with so-called “meetings” that turn out to be just one-way info dumps. Meanwhile, workshops sometimes devolve into dull PowerPoint marathons.

The result? Wasted time, frustrated teams, and zero outcomes.

It’s time for clarity.

In this article, you’ll clearly understand the differences between a call, a meeting, and a workshop—and why using each format consciously is key to working smarter. You’ll learn which format suits which purpose and how to use them efficiently.

Call, Meeting, Workshop: What’s the Difference?

1. Call – Quick, Direct, Informative

A call is typically short, spontaneous, and focused on exchanging information. It usually happens over the phone or via video tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

• Great for quick coordination
• Best for 1:1s or small groups
• No deep discussion
• Not suited for creative work

Example:
A team lead calls a colleague to confirm a deadline for a presentation.

2. Meeting – Structured, Regular, Decision-Oriented

A meeting is a scheduled and goal-driven conversation. It follows an agenda and is meant to drive decisions, share updates, or solve specific problems.

• Ideal for coordination and accountability
• Should last no longer than 60 minutes
• Risk of dragging on without clear decisions

Example:
A weekly team sync with a fixed agenda, action items, and follow-ups.

3. Workshop – Creative, Interactive, Solution-Focused

A workshop is a longer, hands-on session focused on collaboration and creative problem-solving. It thrives on interaction, group work, and tools like whiteboards or Miro.

• Perfect for brainstorming, strategy, and innovation
• Interactive formats and team involvement
• Requires significant prep
• Needs clear facilitation to stay on track

Example:
A 3-hour cross-functional workshop to design a new marketing strategy.

Why It Matters to Know the Difference

Being intentional about your formats saves time, reduces stress, and boosts results. Here's why:

• A call without prep can still be useful. A workshop without structure? Never.
• A meeting without decisions is pointless. A call without a goal? Just noise.
• A workshop with no real purpose? Drains energy and attention.

The most common mistake:
Everything gets labeled a “meeting”, even when it clearly isn’t. That leads to confusion, unclear expectations, and inefficient work.

Putting It into Practice: Choose the Right Format

This isn’t just theory. Choosing the right format helps you:

• Cut unnecessary meetings from your calendar
• Bring structure and clarity to your team
• Make smart decisions at the right time, in the right setting
• Boost active participation and reduce passive frustration

Clarity = Efficiency

Bonus: Never Miss a Thing - Even With All These Formats

Tired of juggling notes during every call or workshop?
Leave a meeting wondering, “Wait, what were my tasks again?”

Here’s your solution:

Meet Sally – Your Smart AI Assistant for Every Format

Call, meeting, or workshop - Sally’s got your back.

Our AI transcribes your sessions automatically, summarizes everything clearly, and syncs action items directly with your tools. Trello, HubSpot, Notion—you name it.

No more scribbled notes. No more forgotten to-dos. No more confusion.