76% people say that meetings hurt their productivity.
Some notes on making internal meetings more productive (1/n)
Some notes on making internal meetings more productive (1/n)
Meetings hurt productivity but are a necessary evil. Some PMs thrive on getting work done in them, devs feel it breaks their rhythm & are unnecessary, business folks believe that meetings = work. Sharing few 'hacks' that helped me manage my day better with flurry of meetings -
1. Reduce all meetings to 25 minutes. If the meeting agenda can't be cracked in 25, it won't be cracked in 60/90
2. Don't attend meetings without agenda! (Unless you want to go in there to play subway surfer) - It's a culture thing and build that culture
2. Don't attend meetings without agenda! (Unless you want to go in there to play subway surfer) - It's a culture thing and build that culture
3. Don't attend meetings with loose agenda. If it's clear that without some homework (from you or the meeting keeper) the meeting will be waste, say it upfront
4. If the meeting is to problem solve, make sure all the ingredients (data/estimates/requirements/research) are ready..
4. If the meeting is to problem solve, make sure all the ingredients (data/estimates/requirements/research) are ready..
.. Why meet to conclude - 'let's get these things first'? That decision can be taken over emails or documents
5. If the meeting is for alignment, make sure the decision makers are there. No point doing pre-meetings for main meetings
5. If the meeting is for alignment, make sure the decision makers are there. No point doing pre-meetings for main meetings
6. If a meeting has more than 5 people, question if your presence is required. Don't live in FOMOM - Fomo of meetings
7. Respect everyone's time and expect the same. Don't be that person who says: "i'll be 10 minutes late for this' and then just before any conclusion they say...
7. Respect everyone's time and expect the same. Don't be that person who says: "i'll be 10 minutes late for this' and then just before any conclusion they say...
.. 'Sorry, need to run to the other one'. 25 minutes rule anyways takes care of that.
8. ALWAYS write down what's discussed. Scribble / notes / email / whatsapp - whatever. Tool doesn't matter, context matters. When followup meeting happen again, use the same notes to continue
8. ALWAYS write down what's discussed. Scribble / notes / email / whatsapp - whatever. Tool doesn't matter, context matters. When followup meeting happen again, use the same notes to continue
9. Block few hours as work every day on your calendar. Train your mind to use those hours for non meeting work everyday
10. Try to build a habit of async communication over any tool you use. Google suite comments work well as well. Try solving quick solutions over those channels
10. Try to build a habit of async communication over any tool you use. Google suite comments work well as well. Try solving quick solutions over those channels
11. Never end meetings without what's next. Such meetings are time & productivity leeches. A nap is better than those meetings
12. If you keep meeting same person from another team regularly, convert that into a weekly. Convert ad-hocism into predictability
12. If you keep meeting same person from another team regularly, convert that into a weekly. Convert ad-hocism into predictability
13. All the above can be done without worrying about getting perceived as rude. Don't worry about that. Prioritising your time well is as important as prioritising problems and features for your teams
What are some of the hacks that you have found out to make your meetings more useful and days more productive?
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