Are Your Meetings a Waste of Time?

“Your scarcest resource is not your time. It’s your attention. Your best work flows from paying undivided attention to the projects that matter to you. Your deepest connections come from listening with rapt attention to the people who matter to you.” – Adam Grant

Imagine if your meetings were an investment of your full attention with the people you lead and the shared purpose you hold. Research, and our work in the field with leaders across sectors, tells us that this type of meeting is not the norm.

Of senior managers in a range of industries:

• 71% said meetings are unproductive and inefficient

• 65% said meetings keep them from completing their own work

• 64% said meetings come at the expense of deep thinking

• 62% said meetings miss opportunities to bring the team closer together

Ineffective meetings cost US businesses up to $399 BILLION per year. And that’s just a calculation based on time spent. It doesn’t factor in the impact those meetings have on organizational climate and culture, including: morale, engagement, relationships, and ultimately business results.

According to Professionals on the impact of poorly organized meetings:

• 44% said they didn’t have enough time to do the rest of their work

• 43% said unclear actions lead to confusion

• 38% said bad organization results in loss of focus on projects

• 31% said irrelevant attendees slows down progress

• 26% said inefficient processes weaken client/supplier relationships

When we say meetings matter, it’s because they really do. Whether it’s one-on-one, a team meeting, or a company-wide broadcast, the quality of the conversations reveals the quality of the organization’s leadership and relationships. Both are inextricably linked to the ability to achieve desired outcomes and create an environment where people thrive.

There is a better way. Research shows, and our experience with clients confirms, when you apply disciplined meeting practices and protocols, employees perceive significant improvements:

• 42% increase in team collaboration

• 32% increase in psychological safety to speak up and express opinions

• 30% increase in satisfaction with work/life balance

• 28% increase in team performance

Think your meetings could use a makeover? This month we are offering a meeting redesign giveaway that includes an observation and a strategy session with one of our JLC Meeting Masters. Enter by July 31, 2021.

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Or, reach out now for a complimentary discovery/strategy call.

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Sources: HBR Magazine - 2017, Doodle - 2019