[Originally posted in 2011]
Sponsored by Seth Godin, written by Al Pittampalli, a nice take on the “meeting efficiency” topic!
I particularly like the way Al sets things up:
“Traditional meetings are treated as just another form of communication. Meetings are too expensive and disruptive to justify using them for the most common types of communication, like making announcements, clarifying issues, or even gathering intelligence. […] Like war, meetings are a last resort .”
And the principles make sense
The modern meeting
1- supports a decision that has already been made.
2- moves fast and ends on schedule
3- limits the number of attendees
4- rejects the unprepared
5- produces committed action plans
6- refuses to be informational
7- works only alongside a culture of brainstorming
Now sound principles are not enough to break the vicious circle. Especially in large organizations, “meeting hygiene overhauls” are initiated by the top and rolled out forcefully.
