Too Many Meetings? Break Free from the Vicious Cycle

Teamwork & CooperationEfficiency & Time ManagementAll employees≈ 20 min

Key skill: Meeting facilitation

Summary

Cut back on meeting overload: decide whether a meeting is truly necessary, then better target participants, frame it and run it well so you stop losing time and money.

Target audience

Anyone who runs or attends meetings.

Learning objectives

Diagnose your own meeting habits
Ask 3 key questions to determine whether a meeting is necessary
Choose effective alternatives to meetings that cost less than meetings themselves
Stop wasting time in meetings through excellent targeting, preparation and facilitation

Module outline

ArticlesThe cost of pointless meetings: displaying their real price ($2,115) · Key figures on meeting overload · 10 questions to reflect on your meeting productivity
Expert videoA 3-point analysis: France's meeting overload, the exorbitant cost of meetings, and why they waste time
AnchoringA quiz and True/False questions to dig deeper into the topic and anchor what you've learned
Memo cardA downloadable coaching memo card: the key points from the expert video
CommitmentConcrete examples to help you define your own commitment
BonusA selection of videos to go further (TED, YouTube)

Models & methods

Three questions to ask before calling a meeting; MAD syndrome (accepting invitations without thinking); Google's rules; targeting, framing, facilitation.

Research-based

Perfony study (16 years spent in meetings over a career); L'Express article, 2011; IFOP study, 2015 (1h19); David Grady (MAD syndrome); Google's internal rules.