Meeting Freak

Posted by Scott Williams
20 Comments
March 11, 2008
Leadership | Strategy

I have always been a firm believer that having too many meetings is counter productive for any organization.  I had the opportunity to provide leadership consulting for a number of Juvenile Justice Organizations around the country.  A consistent recommendation that I would have for these agencies was to reduce the number of meetings, and get to work.   

Not only would they have a lot of meetings, but they would have a meeting to schedule another meeting….  That is absolutely ludicrous!  Not only are employees sitting through generally boring meetings; they have preparation time, potential travel time and then download time after the meeting.  I have worked for individuals who like to meet for meetings sake and it absolutely drove me crazy.   If you are that boss that requires your employees to participate in a lot of meetings, please stop because you are killing the morale and productivity.  If you work for a Meeting Freak, speak up and challenge them to employ a new strategy.  Here are some strategies to consider as it relates to meetings: 

  • If a meeting is regularly scheduled for 1 hour, change it to 45 minutes
  • If you can handle it with a brief water cooler chat; don’t schedule a meeting
  • Require only the necessary people to attend particular meetings
  • Know your employees and facilitate types of meetings that motivate them
  • Change the setting: Starbucks, Golf Course, Restaurants, Outside, Different…
  • Get rid of the PowerPoint presentations; to much prep time and nobody cares
  • Get everyone involved; encourage everyone’s contribution
  • Speak up; if the meetings are boring or just plain suck, let it be known
  • Don’t get me started on conference calls!

Are you that Meeting Freak or do you know someone who is?  Share your thoughts and experiences! 

  • http://www.ichilly.typepad.com Chilly

    I probably don’t have enough meetings (maybe that’s why my staff love me)! Great strategies – I loved:
    “Get rid of the PowerPoint presentations; to much prep time and nobody cares”
    – this is great, they really don’t care and they need to look in your eyes not a computer or projector screen.

  • http://nicoleknox.blogspot.com/ Nicole Knox

    Thats what I am talking about! Get my husband out of those meetings=) But when I worked at the church for a whole 6 weeks I LOVED meetings. LOL

  • http://littlepastor.blogspot.com JC

    I can’t stand to go to ‘brainstorming’ meetings, where we all pass along ideas; but nobody every really implements those ideas. Or being in a meeting with a superior that won’t control the out of control behavior of my peers.

    In general, I’d rather have one-on-one meetings than a group setting any day!

  • http://www.floatingaxhead.com Scott

    I have spent the last two weeks in meetings – most of which were a waste of my time. Seth Godin calls them “JAM” sessions, for Just Another Meeting.

    Another key component – always have an agenda that is given to participants ahead of time. There is nothing worse than going into a meeting and being blindsided by someone with their own agenda.

  • http://5and2fish.com Ryan

    Meetings drive me crazy! Just get to the point people and learn to make quick decisions.

    I went to a class on effective meetings last year, the class went over! Please.

    My class for effective meetings would consist of:
    Set an Agenda and time frame.
    Stick to the agenda time frame.
    Get rid of the chairs.
    Schedule the meeting for 4:30 on Friday.
    Now go get it done! :)

  • http://www.annameadows.com Anna Meadows

    Hey, thanks for not being a meeting freak… um… see you in thirty minutes for our… meeting… lol

  • http://patricksievert.wordpress.com Patrick Sievert

    We have a conference call on Tuesdays at 4:00. I hate that conference call. Mostly because it means I have to work until 4:00.

  • http://rollmentalcamera.blogspot.com roger

    I have always lived by this quote, which may have been mine or someone else’s I am not sure.
    “If there is no MEAT in the meeting then why have one?”
    If you are just getting together to rehash or just babble then why waste the time, have something constructive to meet about

  • http://www.greenups.com greenup

    Your comment about “meetings to schedule meetings” reminded me of something that confuses me in small groups sometimes. There is a time set aside for “prayer requests”, where people detail needs, then, sometimes a direct assignment of each of those to other individuals, followed by the actual prayer time.
    .
    It would seem more fruitful to me to jump right on. Choose a designated note taker if necessary, for the lists to take home afterward.

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    meetings to discuss future meetings = ridiculous

  • http://www.servingstrong.com Scott Couchenour

    it amazes me how I get lulled to sleep thinking the more meetings, the more productive I am. not so.

    some of your thoughts can be applied to email as well. when was the last time you got an enormously-huge eMonologue? some large email msgs should be water cooler talks…

    thanks for the post.

  • http://patricksievert.wordpress.com Patrick Sievert
  • http://www.unveilinghope.com Hope

    Thanks for this post! I detest meetings. Not so bad when they stay on course and stick to the purpose and everyone respects one anothers time and opinions – otherwise … time is too precious to waste.

  • http://headyco.com Heady

    Meetings are crazy. Who thought of meetings? I like water cooler meetings. They are more productive. We’ve come up with our best ideas sitting around shooting the breeze. And yes, please have an agenda. BOY!!!!!!! And crying out loud, can we please implement at least one idea discussed in the meeting. Scott, you’ve started something. Peace out my friends.

  • Scott Williams
    I guess I am not the only one who feels this way :-)

  • http://jennifercady.blogspot.com/ Jenn Cady

    Please STOP meeting FREAKS! I used to work for a company that spent 80% of the time meeting and %20 working! AHHHHH! Enough on the “ROLL playing” on how to sell. Just get out there and deal with REAL life and individual clients!

  • http://www.servingstrong.com Scott Couchenour

    I’ve got to stop reading all the comments to this post. I’ve got work to do……….

  • http://wilsonministries.blogspot.com Kevin

    What do your staff meetings look like? How long are they? How much feedback do you do? What is the best part of your staff meeting?

  • Scott Williams

    Kevin- Here is the basic rundown for NOC staff meetings. We have one meeting per week and I have broken them into two categories based on my team member’s personality types. All of my team members are “Feelers” except for me; so we alternate weeks, one weeke we have what we call a “T” meeting “Thinker” w/ an agenda and it lasts 1 hour. The alternating week we have what we call an “F” meeting “Feeler” and it is at Starbucks w/ no agenda and just hangin’, lovin’ and allowing the “Feelers” to get their “F” tank full.

    Everyone participates, we go around the room and share weekend experiences… Hearing stories from weekend, personal stories, struggles… are usually great moments. It’s a real open dialogue where people are free to challenge each other, cry, laugh….

    My team really looks forward to the “F” meetings, not just for the coffee but for the unrestriced interaction that occurs.

    Thanks for the question from the sunshine state.

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