Maximizing Productivity: Reevaluating the Importance of Meetings
Workplace teams spend an average of 5 hours a week in meetings plus 4 hours preparing for those meetings. Before scheduling your next meeting, think of the following: Why are we meeting? – Have a clear reason for the meeting. This is especially important for recurring meetings. No clear reason for the meeting? Reschedule or skip. Who needs to attend? – Define the audience for the meeting. Only invite those who will have information relevant to or would benefit from the discussion. When should we meet? – No one likes meetings at 3:00pm on Friday. Look for days and times that are more suitable for discussion. Tue–Thu mornings are best. Where should we meet? – Face to face, phone or video? Choose the best option for discussion and sharing information. Phone/video will require you to send out meeting material in advance, so all can read and follow along. Low participation? – Distribute and ask for feedback on the agenda. Allow others to add to the discussion. Keep it light and enj...