Framework for Modernizing Meetings

Is this you?

Imagine having a day in which every meeting invigorated you, supported your challenges, and added to your excitement.  Is that even possible?

It is reported that managers lose almost 6 hours a week to unproductive meetings. If they are paid $75/ hour that equates to roughly $23,000 a year for one person.  You must be rolling in money if you can support this!

We have all become lazy, “meetings” have lost their intention and vigor for catalysts of change, deep learning, and inspiring ideas.  Are you ready to reimagine how your team spends its time?  

Let’s begin by renaming “meetings”.

The word “meeting” creates instant stagnancy and depletes energy.  A simple retitle creates intrigue and excitement.  

• Creative conversations

• Decision jam

• Impact review

• Roundtable rumble

  
  

Create different names to indicate the purpose of the time.

Time allotment

Challenge yourself with time allotment, we can always fill the time but is it really needed?   Can 60 minutes move to 45? Or can you shift weekly meetings to biweekly or a group huddle to integrate new thinking and roundtable wisdom to replace one-on-ones?

Are you being Updated? (my personal pet peeve)

Meetings should be spaces to rumble (as Brené Brown says)—to brainstorm, surface blind spots, and challenge thinking (not people) with the intention of moving the work forward.

Updates are an extremely expensive use of collective time. Consider the total hourly rate of everyone present (you are quickly in the thousands of dollars) and ask yourself: Is this worth it?   Are we maximizing our time and energy to justify the cost?

How can you reimagine ways to disseminate information: newsletter, video message, team blog, creative dashboards, morning voice note sent weekly- 60 second update sent out to the entire team.  

Get uncomfortable: We need to think differently and challenge the norm if you want to get out from under the traditional format.

Next week, I’ll be sharing a new meeting format designed to maximize results and ignite innovation.

My Challenge to You: Are you ready to play with a new approach?

It’s time to reimagine how we meet.

• Ask for updates in advance and provide handouts so in-person time is used to rumble—to think, challenge, and create together?

• Can you set a clear objective for each meeting and disinvite those not critical to the topic? (Inclusivity loses its value when it dilutes purpose.)

• Can you prepare an agenda in advance and ask participants to come ready to contribute?

• Reduce the time or consolidate one meeting each week.

Remember: the goal isn’t just to meet. It’s to move forward—with clarity, innovation, and action.