Feel like you spend too much time in meetings (and not enough time actually doing the work)? You probably do … and you’re not alone.
Over 60% of people say they don’t have enough uninterrupted work time, and studies show that most of us are spending on average an entire workday (7.5 hours) in meetings, every week.
If your company is ready to end the meeting malaise for your employees, try these tips.
1. Wait for the right time
When it comes to implementing company-wide changes, timing matters. Find a time when employees are already naturally embracing change (like the beginning of the year) and avoid busy periods like the end of a quarter.
We chose the end of summer. Families are sending their kids back to school, people are returning from vacations and everyone is gearing back into new habits and routines.
2. Look at all your meetings, across the board, with fresh eyes
Start with the 30,000-foot view of all your meetings. Yes, it’s daunting, but it’s the best way to get your arms around the big picture. Focus on two factors — duration and cadence.
Look for opportunities to reduce the length of standing meetings. Very few meetings (if any) should go over an hour and most discussions, particularly those with fewer than 10 participants, can be handled within 30 minutes.