“The Seven Sins of Deadly Meetings”

“Bad meetings are a source of negative messages about our company and ourselves.” “Bad meetings are a source of negative messages about our company and ourselves.” Meetings perpetuate the idea of how a company believes each employee belongs. If the meeting is boring, then the company will be portrayed as being boring. Meetings perpetuate the idea of how a company believes each employee belongs. If the meeting is boring, then the company will be portrayed as being boring. Many consultants and professionals are finding that meetings are counterproductive and inefficient. Many consultants and professionals are finding that meetings are counterproductive and inefficient.

#1 – People don’t take meetings seriously. Late arrival, early departure, distracted meetings. #1 – People don’t take meetings seriously. Late arrival, early departure, distracted meetings.

Solution: Follow Intel’s meeting principles. Solution: Follow Intel’s meeting principles. Some companies punish tardiness with fees and/or reprimanding. Intel has posters on meeting room walls that ask employees several questions. These questions remind employees of the vital role that meetings play. In addition, every employee including the CEO must take Intel’s own course on holding effective meetings. Some companies punish tardiness with fees and/or reprimanding. Intel has posters on meeting room walls that ask employees several questions. These questions remind employees of the vital role that meetings play. In addition, every employee including the CEO must take Intel’s own course on holding effective meetings.

#2 – Meetings are too long. They should accomplish twice as much in half the time. #2 – Meetings are too long. They should accomplish twice as much in half the time.

Solution: Track the cost/time of your meetings. Solution: Track the cost/time of your meetings. Meetings shouldn’t last longer than 90 minutes. Time is money. Bad meetings breed more meetings.

#3 – People wander off topic. Participants spend more time digressing than discussing. #3 – People wander off topic. Participants spend more time digressing than discussing.

Solution: Stick to the agenda. Solution: Stick to the agenda. Be sure that the meeting has a specific goal/agenda. Intel has an “agenda template” that is circulated several days before the actual meeting. This agenda specifies what will be covered, who will be speaking, what will be expected, and other key points.

#4 – Nothing happens once the meeting ends. People don’t convert decisions into action. #4 – Nothing happens once the meeting ends. People don’t convert decisions into action.

Solution: Transition; focus on common documents. Solution: Transition; focus on common documents. “The capacity for misunderstanding is unlimited.” This is why many prefer computer-enhanced meetings to flip- charts, whiteboards, and post-it notes. People compete for space on flip-charts and organization is impossible. Computers allow for editing and unlimited space.

#5 – People don’t tell the truth. #5 – People don’t tell the truth.

Solution: Embrace anonymity. Solution: Embrace anonymity. Most people don’t speak their minds. Many computer- based tools promote communication of comments and ideas through anonymous means. This eliminates intimidation and fear of retaliation.

#6 – Meetings are always missing important information, so they postpone critical decisions. #6 – Meetings are always missing important information, so they postpone critical decisions.

Solution: Get data, not just furniture, into meeting rooms. Solution: Get data, not just furniture, into meeting rooms. Many meeting rooms are uninviting and isolated. However, these rooms may detach themselves from the flow of information. Allow for enough space for teams to store materials. Meetings yield models, charts, and artifacts. These shouldn’t be shuttled back and forth from meeting rooms.

#7 – Meetings never get better. People make the same mistakes. #7 – Meetings never get better. People make the same mistakes.

Solution: Practice makes perfect. Solution: Practice makes perfect. “Monitor what works and what doesn’t and hold people accountable.”

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