The Unseen Costs of Meetings
Engaged minds, but are all essential to the conversation?
A couple of years back, I was stuck in a seemingly endless meeting. As topics were discussed and points raised, I began to feel like an outsider looking in. It didn’t take long for me to realize that most of the discussions didn't really concern my role. As the clock ticked, my inbox filled up, and my to-do list remained unchecked, I couldn’t help but think about the other tasks I could've been addressing.
Surveying the room, I counted ten other participants, and a thought struck me: What's the true cost of this meeting? It wasn't just about the dollars and cents, although it would have been costly had we calculated the numbers. More pressing were the projects put on hold, the tasks that got postponed, and the lost productivity hours that started to add up.
The truth is meetings often have more attendees than necessary. The most effective meetings should involve only those who can offer relevant insights or make crucial decisions.
As for the rest? A summary email might suffice.
The clock is ticking: Every meeting has its price.
If you find yourself questioning the size and efficiency of your meetings, it’s clear that a more structured approach is needed. Consider implementing these strategies to enhance efficiency:
Evaluate and Prioritize: Before dispatching invites, assess the purpose of the meeting. Identify the individuals whose expertise or authority is crucial. This selectivity ensures that only necessary voices are present, and others can be briefed afterward.
Quantify Meeting Costs: Inspired by Shopify's recent initiative, introduce a system or tool that calculates the estimated financial cost of each meeting based on the average salaries of the participants. By including this calculated expense in the meeting info, attendees can have a clearer perspective of the impact of the meeting.
Institute Attendee Caps: Drawing inspiration from companies like Microsoft Japan, set a cap on attendees. For instance, any meeting with more than five participants might require managerial approval. This ensures that only the most relevant personnel are in attendance.
Advocate Post-Meeting Summaries: Establish a consistent practice of providing concise, yet comprehensive summaries after each meeting. By distributing these overviews to both attendees and non-attendees, everyone remains in the loop. This not only keeps those who missed the meeting updated but also allows them to provide feedback if needed, eliminating the need for them to be present in every discussion.
Normalize Declining Irrelevant Invites: Encourage a culture where declining non-essential meeting invites is seen as valuing efficiency, not a lack of interest. Consider a company-wide "Not Required" RSVP option for non-critical meetings to underscore this approach.
By weaving these strategies into your organization, you stand to enhance meeting effectiveness while protecting the precious resources of time and money.
Silent now, but soon to be filled. How many will truly need to be here?
As a challenge this week, I encourage you to take a hard look at your calendar. Every time you consider setting up another meeting or attending one, be mindful of its true cost. Take the time to determine if all attendees are genuinely essential to its objectives. Are there voices in the room that can be briefed afterward?
This isn't merely about trimming attendee lists but refining the meeting experience itself. Because, in the end, a more thoughtful approach to meetings doesn’t just conserve resources; it elevates the quality of discussions and outcomes.
Best wishes, Lauren
P.S. If these insights resonate and you're keen on refining your meeting dynamics, my team and I can assist. Free, 30-minute consultations are available to ensure your meetings are meaningful, efficient, and respectful of its true costs.