Meetings are a big part of what it means to work in an office. They provide the opportunity for team members and managers alike, all while maintaining company procedures and keeping everyone engaged.
The survey shows that people have very specific attitudes about which day they think is best for meetings. 29% prefer Tuesday, while 25 percent say Wednesday gets their motor running in the morning with an energized mood – not too shabby! The least-favorite meeting days were Monday (47%) and Thursday(41%) while Friday is the worst day.
When it comes to cell phone usage and meeting etiquette, the younger employees are 15% less likely than their elders, but they’re 10%. In addition, the number of people eating during meetings disturbs them more.
It is not uncommon for knowledge workers to spend 30% – 85% of their day in meetings. This overload stresses them out, while also taking away energy that could be used elsewhere like getting more accomplished at work or taking care of personal responsibilities outside office hours.
Clearly, fewer meetings can save time, increase productivity and help to create a better work-life balance. However, many managers struggle with how to reduce the number of meetings without disrupting workflow.
4 Strategies for Fewer and Effective Meetings
1. Get Organized
- Don’t book a meeting on a busy day. It’s important to keep your team focused and productive in order for them to get their work done on time without any distractions or interruptions from other co-workers
- Consult your team. To make sure you’re getting the most out of your remote team, it’s important that they are involved in all meetings. Consult with them before booking any future gatherings so everyone knows what’s going on and has time to prepare.
2. Reevaluate your meeting habits
In order to make a good impression and be effective, your meeting needs clear goals. You can do this by writing an agenda with obvious steps that will help you reach those desired outcomes; reading up on best practices for hybrid meetings which combine face-to-face contact as well as remote participation through technology such as Skype or Zoom so people feel more connected during their workday without having any individual contact lenses them out from the rest of corporate culture but rather feels partake in what’s going down at every level within business ventures alike.
3. Set a “no” Meeting day
When you set a “no” meeting day for your employees, it helps them form better habits. With more time each week to plan their own work and be creative with how they spend the remaining hours in the office or on-call duty, people will get into an energized state that is conducive to greater productivity overall.
4. Stop Boring Meetings and add Some Fun Ideas
Boring meetings are the death of creativity, but there’s no need for that anymore. Introducing some fun in your next meeting will make it more engaging and productive. Like Turning a meeting into an unforgettable luau party—It’s a trip to the tropics without the plane ride.