005 From Dept. of the Bleedin' Obvious
Stuart Rhys Thomas
The Other Way to do Internal Communication | Ex-Masgroves | Former HRD | Ex-host of Thursday Brunch | #TOWTDIC
"A meeting is an event where the Minutes are kept, while the Hours are lost."
New research has revealed meetings to be costly and unproductive.
?? "No sh!t, Sherlock!"
My thoughts, exactly.
But although we all know this, why do we persist? Why do sit for hour upon hour, bored senseless? Why do we suffer Zoom fatigue (as opposed to Room fatigue, one assumes?)
Hey, don't despair! Meetings can be productive. Worthwhile. Fun, even! Here's five practical ways you can transform your MX.
That's Meeting Experience. Duh.
Our Top Five Tips for Better Meetings (or "Our Guide on how to instantly become more Popular at Work!")
1). Don't have them.
Controversial one to kick off with, I know. But like the Grange Hill song from the 1980s, you can just say no. Honestly.
2). Run them like Richard!
I used to work for a guy called Richard, who ran 1-2-1 meetings with Germanic efficiency.
As you walked into his office, he would ask you "the" question. Like "Have you done that thing you agreed to do?" If it was yes, that was it. Meeting over. If the answer was no, he had this killer follow-up question.
"Why?"
You replied, agreed to shoot it to the top of your To Do List, then left. In-and-out quicker than a cat burglar.
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3). Think of GOD!
Focus on the meeting's purpose.
Get One Decision made.
Usually, one big decision. Do everything you need to, to allow that to happen. Supply all the information beforehand. Lobby people. Whatever. Just think of GOD.
4). Be like the House of Commons!
Agree nothing.
Think of it as "The No Decision Necessary" meeting. Where you just chat but without the pressure of thinking we need to agree X. Or decide Y. Just talk. Listen. See where you end up. Kinda like jammin' for Suits.
5). Do the math.
Because it will scare you. And you'll never waste meeting time again. Here's why.
Someone on ￡60K a year costs 35-quid an hour, ish (based on a 35-hour week). Research says they'll spend a third of their time in meetings. That's ￡20,160 a year. To sit in meetings, being unproductive. A hidden cost. But a cost, nonetheless.
005 YOUR TAKEAWAY
Here are three thoughts for you to take away from this week's Different Gravy.
Different Gravy
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B2B Negotiation, Ethical Influence, Procurement Specialist & Trainer | Cialdini Certified Coach | LinkedIn Learning Instructor | >55K Students | Speaker | Author
2 年Stuart Rhys Thomas this is one of my absolute biggest bugbears, and as you trenchantly pointed out, option 1 should always be to challenge the very need for yet another meeting! It's really not rocket science to fix, but well-run and effective meetings are few and far between.
Specialist writer for HR consultants with purpose. Creating fun, focused and fabulous messages. Websites, profiles, emails and blogs all with a sprinkle of laughter. You in?
2 年Dan Holt made a very similar point recently. The time and money wasted in meetings is a very real, yet somehow hidden, cost!
Supporting menopausal women | Menopause Support Coach | Individual/group coaching, webinars and strategy | Wellbeing specialist
2 年I love this Stuart Rhys Thomas. So many truths in this! Thank you ??
Building winning brands through considered differentiation, distinctive design and compelling copy. Head of Strategy at Fellowship. Board Member at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation. Enthusiastic but slow cyclist.
2 年Two things to bear in mind when thinking about meetings: 1. The best committees consist of no more than three people, at least two of whom are absent. 2. "I've searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees," Gilbert K. Chesterton.