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What do we mean by inefficiencies?
"yes, but"
‘but’ is often used as a suppressor of other’s speech, and defaults to reinforcing current status between extrovert and introvert, or loud versus quiet people
Instant activated judgement
Often used to cut new ideas or solutions from sprouting (e.g. “that’s wasting time”; “done that before, didn’t work”). reinforces a small group of people being influential and affects team and organisational growth.
Non-active listening
When participants do not actively listen to each other, it can lead to misunderstandings and wasted time.
Ineffective communication
Unclear or ambiguous communication can cause confusion and delay decision-making.
Lack of empathy
Not considering others’ perspectives can lead to conflicts and unproductive discussions.
Ego clashes
Personal agendas and the need to be right can derail meetings and shift the focus away from productive discussions.
Poorly communicated criticism
Constant criticism can demotivate the team and hinder progress.
Excessive talking
Some individuals may talk too much, taking up valuable time and preventing others from contributing.
How do we know this?
How to make meetings more efficient
A significant portion of an organization’s time is spent in meetings, with this percentage increasing annually since 2008. This shows how important it is to treat meeting time as a precious resource, as it cannot be bought back. With a typical six-person meeting, two individuals often dominate the conversation, accounting for over 60% of the talking. Additionally, multitasking is prevalent, with 92% of people admitting to it during meetings, and 41% doing so frequently. This behavior, along with the fact that only 20% of meetings with sales professionals focus on buyers’ specific needs, contributes to the inefficiency of meetings.
And often, meetings dictate the structure of the workday for 54% of knowledge workers, leading to less time for “real work.” That 80% of respondents believe they would be more productive with fewer meetings, and 76% feel drained on days with many meetings.
This impacts their overall productivity, as 51% of employees working overtime due to meeting overload, with 67% for those at the director level and above. Additionally, 78% of respondents feel pressured to attend numerous meetings daily, disrupting their workflow.
LAB
Listen Accept Build
Active listening + Active accepting + Building on others’ ideas WHILE Postponing judgement
This is what makes meetings far more effective and welcoming to be in, with more solutions, suggestions and ideas being put forward that can advance the team and the organisation.
