Stop Attending Valueless Meetings

 

Despite numerous studies showing that more than half of the meetings people attend lack value, many continue to participate. Few people are bold enough to say, “This meeting is pointless, so I’m not attending anymore.”

Often, people get stuck in a cycle of meetings for the sake of meetings. It takes someone courageous to decline a meeting and break the cycle. When you stop attending unnecessary meetings, others will realize they can do the same. You may find that people start cancelling valueless meetings because everyone involved recognizes it as a waste of time.

Being selective with your time at work isn’t necessarily a selfish act. When it comes to unnecessary meetings, this kind of “selfishness” can lead to more productive working hours for everyone.

While reviewing your meetings (see previous exercise), consider the following parameters:

• Timing: Was the meeting required to be held at that time, started on time, and finished when the work was done?
• Participants: Did the meeting have exactly the right people in the room, and was the right pre-work done?
• Effectiveness: Was the meeting effectively chaired to stay on topic, engage all participants, and achieve an outcome in the minimum time required?
• Purpose: Did the meeting have a clear purpose, sufficient information for the conversation, and a defined outcome with clear next steps?
• Documentation: Was there a record kept for later review of the information considered, the relevant discussion, and any decisions or actions required?
• Scheduling: Were the meetings back-to-back with another meeting, allowing no time for personal reflection or preparation?

If these parameters apply to the meetings you review, then it’s time to start declining them.