Meeting-itis Syndrome is Deathly Real

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting is an increasingly contested way of working, especially with the rise of remote work and video conferencing. Managers and employees alike are complaining that they spend too much time on this deep-rooted part of corporate life. 

 

Indeed, executives spend an average of 25 hours a week in meetings, whether by video conference or around a table, according to a study reported by Bloomberg Law. And it’s a practice they consider excessive and of little value, most times. 

 

The huge number of meetings is an issue that people within organizations have been fighting, often without too much success. 

 

“Meeting-itis” syndrome, which is an excessive propensity to hold unnecessary meetings, is the order of the day. Unproductive meetings and huge amount of time invested, or spent, in endless sessions that, in addition to being inefficient, drastically drain the energy of the teams involved.

 

Indeed, I have experienced this situation before. In one company – an Australian-Malaysian JV – that I worked for, seven-hour marathon meetings (mind you, no breaks!) are pretty common!  And there were only four of us!

In fact, the 10,000 white-collar workers surveyed estimate that more than half of these business meetings could be eliminated without affecting their productivity. Attendance at these Google Meet, Zoom or in-person meetings could represent a loss of earnings of almost €100 million (RM493 million) for large private companies, according to Bloomberg. 

 

But that’s not the only drawback of this overload of meetings, popularly dubbed “meetingitis”. In truth, the proliferation of meetings greatly undermines everyone’s autonomy and freedom of organization. Many employees accept the invitations they receive out of conformism, or for fear of being seen – especially by their superiors – as an unmotivated slacker. 

 

This capitulation can become a real source of frustration at a time when many employees complain of not being able to carry out their tasks successfully. “Time is our most precious resource, so wasting it in meetings that don’t appear to serve any purpose is tiring and tedious”, said productivity coach Juliet Landau-Pope. 

 

“Awareness of opportunity costs – knowing that you could be doing something more positive or productive – adds to frustration that saps energy and motivation”. 

 

A good meeting generates action, commitment, and inclusion, helping to build a healthier organizational culture. Therefore, if we must have meetings, let’s ensure that we have meetings that are worthwhile and have real impact. 

 

Some key points to consider when dealing with the issue of meetings: 

• Is the meeting necessary or could it be avoided with an email, message, or direct call? Or even a quick face-to-face? 
• Who to invite to the meeting? Choosing each participant’s roles well is critical. Let’s make sure that those who are going to attend really make sense. 
• What is the real goal? Will it be a decision-making, informative… Sending a clear agenda and materials 24 hours before, gives everyone a chance to get aligned and prepared. 
• Who will ensure that the meeting flows in time and objectives as planned? The organizer of the meeting owns the meeting and must ensure these two key objectives. Ensuring not to deviate too much in conversations and define timekeepers is a highly recommended practice. 
• Does everyone here have an opinion? A meeting is a powerful inclusion tool. Giving voice and opportunity to everyone present ensures integration and different points of view to the same issue. 
• What actions will be taken after the meeting? Securing actionables is critical. In short, it’s the very meaning of the meeting. Without this, the meeting loses its meaning. 

The key takeaway is to be respectful of one’s own time and others’ time.

 

Yesterday, Celtic proved too strong for second-tier Inverness Caledonian Thistle as they claimed the Scottish Cup and a fifth domestic treble in seven seasons. 

 

The latter were looking to cause one of the tournament's biggest final shocks, and defended stoutly until the prolific Kyogo Furuhashi turned in his 34th goal of the season with virtually his first touch in the 38th minute. 

 

Then, a second goal by substitute Liel Abada finished a slick move to put Celtic firmly in control in the 65th minute. 

 

Inverness got one back with six minutes left before Abada's dinked cross was eventually turned home in stoppage time by Jota to seal a 41st Scottish Cup and yet another domestic clean sweep. 

 

Manager Ange Postecoglou (right) has now won five of the six domestic trophies available since joining the club in the summer of 2021 – but regrettably, he is expected to leave Hampden Park and join Tottenham Hotspur FC next season.