And because collaboration is a good thing, it follows that more meetings must mean better collaboration. Meetings are supposed to improve team relationships, encourage idea generation and discussion, and ensure transparency and accountability. This mindset is why “facetime” is considered so important — and why so many of our calendars are filled with one meeting after another.
Of course, most of us know that the reality isn’t quite so rosy. Think of the last boring meeting you’ve attended. Chances are you didn’t have to think for long.
The fact is, many meetings just aren’t effective. One survey of senior managers found that 70% of meetings are a waste of time. Another uncovered that 67% of employees think meetings keep them from completing important tasks.
The pandemic made the “meeting problem” all the more apparent. The sudden switch to remote work meant that all time spent together had to be scheduled, from meetings to check-ins to social engagements. For many teams, the increase in meetings was an attempt to compensate for a lack of in-person communication.
