Good morning, Casual Workers!
It's Friday, and you know what that means... another day, another meeting invite. Or maybe five. If you're anything like us, you've probably spent a good chunk of your work life wondering why you're sitting in a conference room (or staring at a Zoom grid) when a simple email would have sufficed.
Today, we're diving deep into the phenomenon of Meeting Mania and exploring the age-old question: Could this meeting actually be an email?
Why Are We Meeting Again?
Let's be honest, some meetings are necessary. Brainstorming sessions, project kickoffs, and team-building activities often benefit from real-time interaction. But then there are those meetings. The ones where:
One person talks for 90% of the time.
The agenda is vaguer than a politician's promise.
You leave feeling more confused than when you arrived.
You find yourself doing other work on your laptop, because why not?
Sound familiar? You're not alone.
The Email-to-Meeting Ratio: A Delicate Balance
The key to a productive workweek is finding the sweet spot between email communication and face-to-face (or screen-to-screen) interaction.
We created a handy flow chart to help with that:
Does this require a back-and-forth discussion with multiple people offering input?
Yes: Proceed to next question.
No: SEND AN EMAIL.
Does this involve complex problem-solving or brainstorming that requires real-time collaboration?
Yes: Schedule a meeting, make sure there is a clear agenda and time limit
No: SEND AN EMAIL.
Am I scheduling this meeting just to appear busy or important?
Yes: SEND AN EMAIL.
No: Proceed to next question.
Is this meeting going to produce a clear, actionable outcome or decision?
Yes: Schedule a short, focused meeting.
No: SEND. AN. EMAIL.
Survival Tactics for Unnecessary Meetings
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you'll still get trapped in a meeting that's about as productive as a screen door on a submarine. For those occasions, we offer these survival tips:
The "Fake Note-Taker": Appear engaged by furiously scribbling notes, even if you're just doodling or making your grocery list. Bonus points if you occasionally nod thoughtfully.
The "Strategic Questioner": Ask one or two well-placed questions to give the impression of attentiveness, then mentally check out again.
The "Tech Troubles" Gambit: (Use sparingly!) "Oh no, my internet seems to be cutting out..." click (This is best to use on Zoom calls)
The "Master Multitasker": If you're a pro at looking engaged while discreetly doing other work on your laptop, then good for you. Share your secrets with the rest of us.
The Bottom Line
Meetings can be valuable, but they can also be a huge time suck. Let's all strive to be more mindful of when a meeting is truly necessary and when a simple email will do. Your calendar (and your sanity) will thank you.
What are your worst meeting experiences? Share your stories and tips by emailing us!
See you on Monday,
The Casual Work Week