The goal of every meeting should be a decision
Nothing quite triggers a collective exhale like the “ding” of a canceled meeting. These days, people have come to dread meetings. It’s no wonder companies are getting creative in their attempts to revamp them, from starting with coloring sessions to holding them on basketball courts (while shooting hoops) and more. But injecting fun into meetings is like putting lipstick on a pig—it can’t save a…
The key to productive meetings is ensuring they lead to decisions and action. Companies are finding creative ways to revamp meetings, but injecting fun doesn't guarantee success. Research shows a third of meetings are unnecessary and waste $25 million annually for every thousand employees. Meetings waste more than just time—they drain energy and divert focus from important work.
The problem lies in how meetings are used, often as a venue for rehashing ideas or discussing points that could be resolved via email. High-performing organizations understand the distinction between discussion and decision, using meetings as catalysts for progress. To reduce meeting drag and create faster, clearer decisions, organizations should build systems with clear ownership.
This means assigning responsibilities and ensuring everyone knows their role in moving work forward. Pre-meeting prep is crucial, with relevant context and information provided ahead of time to avoid frantic searches during the meeting. Tools like AI-powered platforms (e.g., Notion) and generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) can streamline pre-meeting prep, ensuring everyone is informed and ready to contribute.
Finally, maintaining an open feedback loop allows employees to share insights, suggestions, and concerns about meetings, helping to continuously improve the process and ensure every meeting serves its purpose—achieving meaningful work.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
