Too Many Meetings, Too Little Time? How you can Reclaim Productivity

Meetings are essential for collaboration, but are they always productive? Many leaders and executives find themselves caught in an endless cycle of back-to-back meetings, while nearly half of employees say meetings are the biggest timewaster at work. The real issue isn’t just the number of meetings, it’s whether they’re adding value.

Meeting Overload: By the Numbers

Statistics from BOOQED

• 8 meetings per week – Average across all employees
• 10 meetings per week – Employees above junior level
• 12 meetings per week – Executive management and higher
• 17 meetings per week – VP, director, and C-suite in highly collaborative industries
• 47% of employees say meetings waste the most time at work
• 45% feel overwhelmed by their meeting load

It’s time to rethink how we approach meetings and create a more effective meeting culture.

Building a More Effective Meeting Culture

Train Leaders in Strategic Communication

Leadership development should include training on running efficient, goal-oriented meetings that respect employees’ time. Strong facilitation skills ensure meetings stay on track, leading to better decision-making and engagement.

Foster a Culture of Intentional Collaboration

Managers should be encouraged to consider alternative ways to share updates, brainstorm, and make decisions without defaulting to meetings. A well-crafted email, a quick video update, or a collaborative document can often replace unnecessary meetings.

Empower Employees to Manage Their Time

Employees should be equipped with time management and prioritisation skills to confidently push back on unnecessary meetings and focus on high-impact work. Encouraging them to set clear agendas and time limits helps ensure meetings stay productive.

Leverage Digital Tools for Asynchronous Work

Modern collaboration platforms can help teams work effectively without requiring real-time meetings. Training employees on best practices for using digital tools can significantly reduce meeting overload while maintaining efficiency.

Want to Master the Art of Running Effective Meetings with Business Canterbury?

Do your meetings need a makeover? Meetings should be meaningful, engaging, and impactful, not timewasters. Our hands-on workshop helps you redefine the anatomy of a meeting and ensure it serves its true purpose.

This practical workshop supports individuals to grow their awareness and understanding of how to make their meetings matter through:

• Defining your meeting purpose
• Crafting your agenda
• Priming your attendees to enhance the effectiveness of the time together
• Engaging attendees to interact in a meaningful way
• Resolving conflicts
• Driving action beyond the meeting room

 Interested in gaining practical insight to refresh and enhance the effectiveness of a meeting in your workplace? Have a look into the details here.