I began my career as a developer, which is why I dislike lengthy meetings. This is particularly true when there are too many participants, especially if they are from different teams. It's really difficult to manage.
Large Meetings Must Be AvoidedWell, Elon Musk goes a step further saying that they should be avoided altogether. He goes further to specify they should only be held in cases where they truly provide value and are kept very short.
1. Large Meetings Must Be Avoided
2. No Frequent Meetings
3. Leave When You are not Adding Value
4. Avoid using Acronyms and Jargon
5. Communicate Through the Shortest Path
6. Follow Common Sense
Picture this: It's Monday morning, and your calendar is filled with back-to-back meetings. By 5 PM, your real work remains untouched. Sound familiar? 🕒
Skilled jobs require deep work - focused, uninterrupted time for problem-solving and creativity. Long meetings interrupt this flow and kill productivity.
A University of Malmo study found it takes 23 minutes to regain focus after an interruption. Multiple meetings mean wasted time trying to recapture lost focus.
Successful companies manage this better:
Google uses 'speed geeking' for rapid, efficient meetings.
Elon Musk advocates leaving meetings if you're not adding value.
Netflix minimizes unnecessary meetings, fostering high performance.
Apple includes only necessary personnel to keep meetings short and effective.
💡 It's time to reassess 'meeting culture.' The goal isn't to eliminate meetings but to make them more efficient. Set clear agendas, invite key contributors, use time limits, and leverage technology like Asana, Slack, and Miro.
Time is productivity's currency. Let's spend it on deep work, not unnecessary meetings. Rethinking how we meet can lead to a more productive and satisfying work culture.