Good Morning Everyone!
We're halfway through the week, and if you're like most professionals, you've probably already sat through at least three meetings that could have been emails, two that started late because someone couldn't figure out the screen share, and one that somehow spawned two more meetings. Sound familiar? Today's Workaround Wednesday tackles the productivity killer that plagues every office worker. Meeting overload and the chaos that comes with it.
The traditional approach to meetings is broken, but the solution isn't to eliminate them entirely—it's to redesign how we think about collaborative time. Here's your comprehensive workaround toolkit to reclaim your Wednesday (and every other day):
Essential Meeting Filters:
Implement the "agenda or no meeting" rule—no exceptions
Use the "two-pizza rule" for meeting size (8 people maximum)
Require a clear decision point or problem statement upfront
Set a 25 or 50-minute default (never the full hour)
Time Protection Strategies:
Block 9 AM to 12 PM on Wednesdays for deep work only
Create "buffer zones"—15 minutes between back-to-back meetings
Establish "no-meeting Fridays" for week wrap-up and planning
Use "office hours" instead of random interruption meetings
Meeting Quality Boosters:
Designate a "technology shepherd" for virtual meeting support
Start with the end goal, end with clear next steps
Use collaborative documents for real-time note-taking
Implement the "parking lot" method for off-topic discussions
The magic happens when you combine these strategies with one final principle, Ruthless calendar protection. Give yourself permission to decline meetings where your presence isn't essential. Ask yourself: "Am I here to make a decision, provide input, or receive information?" If it's just information, request the summary instead. Your calendar is your life—protect it accordingly. By implementing these workarounds, you'll transform Wednesdays from meeting marathons into productive powerhouses.
As always have a great day and see you tomorrow!
The Casual Workweek