Too many meetings are bad for company productivity. This was stated by Carson Tate, founder of Working Simply, a management consulting firm based in Charlotte, in an article published in the New York Times.
Tate's thesis is that the infinite theory of meetings to which we submit, meetings that follow each other without stopping and without a precise purpose, are essentially useless, and that something really productive would be better for the company's goals.
For the Tate"It's time for a meeting revolution“: instead of automatically accepting every meeting request, a good manager should consider the return on that investment of time and energy, and hold the meeting only if it meets a whole series of requirements. If the meeting will "help you achieve your goals, if this meeting somehow aligns with your company's priorities, and if holding it is the best use of your time right now," then yes, what a meeting it is. Otherwise better not do it.
But the revolution of meetings does not consist, simply, in reducing their quantity. According to the New York Times article, in fact, we need to change the modalities, making them shorter (a quarter of an hour maximum), eliminating useless pleasantries and circumstantial conversations. Then a practical tip: hold meetings standing. It will increase concentration and push everyone to get straight to the point, shortening the time.
Rules that may seem a little harsh, but which can have positive effects not only on the company's productivity. It is also possible, in fact, that the time taken away from useless meetings can become time gained in freedom, to be used as one prefers.
