Meetings love to pretend they’re productive. They aren’t. They hijack deep work, stretch your day, and leave you wondering where the time went. Block focus hours like your life depends on it. Because it does. Mute notifications. Guard that time like a dragon hoarding gold. Push back on unnecessary meetings. “Can this be an email?” is a full sentence. If you must attend, demand an agenda. No agenda, no attendance. Progress isn’t about being busy. It’s about being intentional. Work smarter, not in circles.

To make steady success despite numerous meetings, set aside uninterrupted time for focused work. Prioritise activities with a project management tool to ensure that essential milestones are reached. Communicate openly with your staff about the need of maintaining a balance between meetings and production. To minimise interruptions, propose alternate meeting forms such as quick stand-ups or asynchronous updates. Regularly examine and adapt your schedule to maximise efficiency and production. Lead by example, emphasising the value of concentrated work times and good time management.

Here are some ways I manage a demanding meeting schedule: -Always request an agenda -Make sure the frequency of the meeting is appropriate -Make sure all necessary people are involved to reduce additional follow-ups -Condense multiple meetings into one when possible -Use Calendly or something similar to block off focus time -Don't be afraid to wrap things up if the meeting becomes unproductive—you don't always have to use up all of the time

Constant meetings can drain productivity, leaving little time for deep work. - Set clear priorities – Identify your most important tasks and block time for them. - Protect deep work hours – Schedule focus time and communicate its importance. - Push for async communication – Use emails or recordings instead of meetings. - Decline or delegate when possible – Not every meeting needs your presence. - Set time limits – Keep meetings concise and goal-oriented. - Batch similar tasks – Group-related work to maximize efficiency. - Follow up efficiently – Use summaries or quick check-ins instead of extra meetings. Meetings shouldn’t control our day. Take charge of our time, set boundaries, and make space for meaningful work.