Why was the meeting about nothing so long? Because it was a ‘full staff’ meeting.

Meetings are the bane of modern office life. They take up precious time, interrupt our workflow, and often leave us feeling drained and unproductive. In fact, a recent article from Salesforce revealed that “nearly half (46%) of knowledge workers say they waste significant time in meetings — a sentiment that anyone who’s accepted to an agenda-less calendar appointment can identify with.”

Of course, some companies are taking steps to change the meeting culture. Amazon, for example, has a strict “ two pizza rule” for meetings, meaning that if the team can’t be fed with two pizzas, the meeting is too big. And who can argue with the logic of pizza?

But Amazon isn’t the only company trying to streamline meetings. Australian software firm Atlassian has a “no meeting Wednesdays” policy to help employees focus on deep work. And productivity guru Tim Ferriss suggests asking yourself,

“Would I spend $10,000 of my own money to have this meeting?” before agreeing to attend.

If you’re a fan of agile software development, you may already be familiar with stand-ups (if not, check out my recent post on the benefits). These short, daily meetings are designed to keep everyone on the same page and identify any roadblocks that need to be addressed. They take no more than 15 minutes and are a great way to improve transparency, accountability, and coordination between team members.

Of course, changing the meeting culture isn’t always easy. As comedian John Cleese once said,

“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.”

And that’s where tools like Slack come in. Asynchronous collaboration can be just as effective as traditional meetings, without the time-wasting and interrupting flow. And with the rise of remote work, it’s become more important than ever to find ways to collaborate effectively without constantly interrupting each other’s work.

And it’s not just tech companies that can benefit from asynchronous collaboration. From healthcare to education, companies and industries across Australia are adopting this new way of working. By reducing the number of unnecessary meetings, employees have more time to focus on actual work, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

So next time you’re about to schedule a meeting, ask yourself: is this really necessary? Could we accomplish the same thing with a quick Slack message or email? And if you do need to have a meeting, make sure it’s focused and efficient. Set clear goals and an agenda ahead of time, and stick to them.

Remember, time is our most precious resource, and wasting it in endless meetings is a surefire way to feel burnt out and unproductive. So let’s take a cue from Amazon and other innovative companies and start rethinking how we work together. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll get that full day of our workweek back.

Sometimes we still do need to meet…

Here are three top tips to use when deciding if a meeting is necessary:

1. Define clear objectives: Before scheduling a meeting, clearly define the objectives and outcomes you hope to achieve. What is the purpose of the meeting? What decisions need to be made? By setting clear objectives, you can determine if a meeting is truly necessary and make the most of the time spent.
2. Consider alternative methods of communication: As mentioned earlier, not all discussions require a meeting. If the topic can be effectively addressed through email, instant messaging, or another communication tool, consider using that method instead. By doing so, you’ll save time for everyone involved and avoid interrupting workflow.
3. Keep it short and focused: If you do decide to hold a meeting, make sure it is focused and efficient. Set a clear agenda and stick to it. Avoid inviting unnecessary participants and keep the discussion on track. By doing so, you’ll make the most of everyone’s time and ensure that the meeting is productive.

These tips are important because they can help you avoid wasting time and energy on unnecessary meetings, which can lead to increased productivity, improved mental well-being, and more positive work culture. By taking a critical look at the need for meetings and implementing these tips, you can create a more efficient and effective workplace.

In the words of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos,

“The best meetings are where everyone is there because they need to be, and no one stays longer than they have to.”