Slay the Meeting Monster: 10 Tips for Streamlined Productivity

I have been a meeting dodger for over two decades now, here are just some of the ways I use to minimise the time bandits.

Do you feel like your calendar is a battleground against endless, unproductive meetings? You're not alone. But fear not, warriors of efficiency! Here are 10 battle-tested tips to help you reclaim your time and conquer the meeting monster:

1. Recurring Meetings? Not So Fast: Unless absolutely necessary, ditch the recurring status and schedule meetings only when everyone agrees it's crucial.
2. Data Dumps? Ditch the Meeting Room: Sharing data is best done asynchronously – send an email!
3. Agenda MIA? Meeting MIA: No clear agenda? No meeting! An agenda circulated at least an hour before keeps everyone on track.
4. Pre-Reading is Mandatory: Distribute relevant materials beforehand to avoid wasting time aligning on basic assumptions.
5. Can It Be a Chat? Cancel It! Simple updates and discussions can be effectively handled through communication channels.
6. Participation is Key: Everyone invited should contribute. Consider recording the meeting for those who can't attend live.
7. Respect Everyone's Time: Cut meeting durations in half and strive for an efficient, focused discussion.
8. Read-Alouds? Read No More! Distribute content beforehand and use meetings for discussions based on that content.
9. Invite the Right People: Only those who need to be present and contribute should attend.
10. Action Items: The Coup de Grace: Every meeting should conclude with clear action items, assigned ownership, and deadlines for accountability.

Let's reclaim our calendars and our sanity! Implement these tips and say goodbye to those soul-sucking, time-wasting meetings. Remember, a well-run meeting can be a powerful tool for collaboration, but unnecessary meetings are productivity vampires. Be a hero – slay the meeting monster and free your time!