Meetings Aren’t a Complete Waste of Time

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Ever had a boring meeting? Of course you have. Was it worth it? Difficult question...

 

 

There have been quite a few mentions in business literature lately regarding a cultural shift away from the “tedious, unnecessary, life-sucking meetings” that so many of our days are filled with. Journalists and commentators applaud this revolutionary shift, claiming that business owners are sure to experience impressive increases in productivity and even worker satisfaction.

Of course, what works for some offices simply won’t work for others. Some companies thrive off meetings – it allows for the expression of individual ideas (hopefully) while some are extremely process-driven and simply don’t require meetings.

Management meetings will always be with us in some form or another. It’s almost a management right to spend hours in “discussion”. It’s rare that you’ll attend a meeting and come away thinking “Wow, that was an efficient and effective use of my time. That meeting was both necessary and rewarding”.

Meetings simply aren’t efficient, nor will they ever be. However, they aren’t a total waste of time. Meetings, at any level, are highly effective as a “pulse-finder” for your organisation. Particularly in smaller offices of 5-25 people, company meetings (provided they are inter-departmental) allow for an intriguing insight into the activities, thoughts and direction of your fellow team members.

In reality, it all comes down to how you handle it. Are your meetings an opportunity for one person to speak about everything that they’re doing, and to point out what others are not? Or do your meetings involve everyone in discussion and attempt to move the company forward as a cohesive unit?

There’s great skill involved in coordinating an effective and interesting meeting, and it’s a skill very few managers have. A good meeting requires a clear theme and consistent direction. It has to continuously move forward to ensure the requisite content is covered, but every agenda must allow for impromptu discussion, debate and brainstorming.

It’s clear that the meeting will retain its place in company culture for a very long time to come, and while it may evolve to suit the requirements of individual organisations and societal trends, there is no doubt that those boring hours of wasted time that we all hate are here to stay. It’s up to us to ensure our time is used effectively, particularly in a group setting, where it matters the most.