What tactics help keep your cross-functional teams engaged during a LONG lead up to a big launch?

I totally agree with you. Nobody wants another meeting! In fact, loading up with endless meetings is a recipe for disengagement. Here are some tactics I follow to keep stakeholders informed, aligned, and engaged throughout the entire process:

1. Phased communication: Personally, I begin with monthly high-level check-ins early in the process to ensure everyone stays aligned without getting overwhelmed by details. I transition to bi-weekly meetings as the launch date approaches, focusing more deeply on specific tasks and progress reports. Finally, I implement daily brief and action-oriented stand-up meetings to swiftly synchronize teams and address any roadblocks in real-time.

2. Regular updates: Send out regular updates via email, or any other collaboration tools such as Slack. I recommend keeping your updates concise, short and to the point. Highlight progress made, milestones achieved, and any changes in plans. In addition, effectively visualize progress by  using Gantt charts, dashboards, or any project management tool available. 

3. Be transparent: I maintain transparent communication regarding project goals, timelines, and challenges. I share any uncertainties or concerns promptly to prevent misinformation or disengagement among stakeholders.

4. Establish feedback loops: Create opportunities for different stakeholders to share concerns, suggest improvements, and offer innovative ideas. Actively listen to their input and incorporate relevant feedback into the process.

5. Share milestones and celebrate achievements. Regularly acknowledging milestones and individual contributions can keep stakeholders motivated and reinforce the importance of their collective efforts towards the launch.

On top of all that, I highly recommend assigning one directly responsible individual (DRI) from each team involved in the launch. This point person will be part of your communication channel, participate in meetings, and communicate any necessary action items to their teammates. This way you can ensure consistency, avoid duplication of effort across teams, and effectively keep everyone engaged.