Why are Some Meetings a Waste of Time?

Important: GDPR Email Preferences

As you may already know, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be coming into effect on 25th May 2018. We take your privacy seriously and we are working hard to ensure we comply with the new data protection laws. You can find out more about how we're doing this in our privacy policy on our website.

We want to make sure you continue to receive the latest newsletters, blogs, special offers and more.

As someone who has opted-in to receive our emails in the past, we’d like to give you this opportunity to confirm what you wish to receive:

Just so you know, if you don’t let us know what kinds of emails you want to receive from us, we’ll stop emailing you on the 24th May 2018 - you'll be missing out!

You are of course free to change your mind at any time – just follow the link at the bottom of any of our emails.

Advert

Why are some meetings a waste of time?

Many meetings are often a waste of time because:

1. The meeting was held "out of habit".
2. The meeting lacked a definite purpose.
3. Too many people, or the wrong people, were invited to attend.
4. There was no proper agenda.
5. The meeting was badly chaired and went off-topic.
6. The conversation was chaotic.
7. The delegates were ill-prepared.
8. The delegates' attitudes were negative.
9. The decision was deferred again, and so the meeting achieved nothing of value.
10. The cost of the meeting was more than its value.

Learn how to chair a successful meeting.

How to make meetings more efficient

In order to fix the problem that meetings are a waste of time, remember the following:

1. Meetings should not be called out of habit.
2. All meetings should be held in order to achieve a definite purpose.
3. Only a minimum number should attend, and they should be the right people.
4. There should be a written agenda.
5. A competent chair person should run the meeting and keep things on track.
6. The conversation should be ordered, systematised and kept on track, by the chairperson.
7. The delegates should prepare themselves by finding, organising and bringing the information that is necessary to make the final decision.
8. The delegates should strive to attend the meeting with their CAN-DO attitude switched on.
9. Don't dither. Make the decision. Recognise that decisions must be made in the light of incomplete and uncertain knowledge.
10. Ensure the value of the meeting outweighs its cost.

To calculate the hidden cost of your meetings, try this brilliant Cost of Meetings App.

Blogs by Email

Do you want to receive an email whenever we post a new blog? The blogs contain article 5-10 minutes long - ideal for reading during your coffee break!

Your Comments

Further Reading in Time Management

• The Best Time Management Tips
  If you never seem to have enough time to do everything you need to, find the time to check out these top ten time-management tips. Everyone can benefit from following these tips; you will feel more in control of your life and will achieve far more.
  Read Article >
• The Avoidance of Preventable Errors
  No one is perfect, we are only human, and as such we make stupid mistakes. However, there are some steps we can take to eliminate them.
  Read Article >
• The 80/20 Rule - Pareto Principle - Explained
  The 80/20 Pareto rule originally stated that 80% (or more), of the wealth in any economy is owned by 20% (or less) of the population. Find out how to use this formula at work.
  Read Article >
• What is Good Time Management?
  Good time management skills will reduce your stress levels and improve your productivity. Learn how to prioritise, minimise time wasting activities and be more goal focused and you will have more time to do the things you want to do.
  Read Article >
• Time management skills and techniques
  Time management skills and techniques Time management training is the art of organising and prioritising your work so that you are always doing the right thing, in the right order. How can you most easily learn time management skills and techniques? You can easily learn some time management skills simply by...
  Read Article >