In a recent op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal, Andy Kessler wrote that meetings are universally hated and that they are something that can only take place at the expense of “real work”. I beg to differ.
I would offer an opinion that any “meeting from hell” is the result of a failure by the organizer, not a fatal flaw in the practice. It has become very trendy in recent years to bash meetings unreservedly, but I can attest to excellent results coming from regular meetings that are organized and focused. The positive outcomes from the meetings in my organization include: 1) keeping everyone on the same page with regular communication, 2) providing accountability for every person on the team (including me), and 3) improving productivity by reinforcing the team concept.
Simple guidelines for productive meetings include: 1) Limit their use, 2) Use a written agenda, 3) Record all assignments and follow up at the next meeting, and 4) Start and stop on time.
And I have to add that Mr. Kessler’s suggestion for using social media as an alternative that will waste less time is absurd. Social media is the single biggest time-waster on the planet. Better to forget the technology du jour and just educate yourself on how to hold a meeting.
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