In today’s fast paced corporate scene, regular group meetings have become an unwelcome ritual that, not just me but many employees and even mid- manager dread. These so-called “collaborative” gatherings often do more harm than good. Here are some reasons why I think regular group meetings are increasingly being a burden and a net negative to teams everywhere.

A Costly Circus with No Real Magic

First off, let’s talk cold, hard cash. A team of ten sacrificing a precious hour each week for a group meeting. That’s over a whole week’s worth of one team member’s time down the drain. If you also count the short daily meetings, in a month’s time, a full person-week of productivity or even more is sacrificed solely to these. Even if the meetings are shorter, the cumulative impact remains significant.

The Toxic Divide

Group meetings can be downright toxic. In my experience, talking to many attendees, A stark divide often emerges, with half the team genuinely enjoying the interaction, while the other half disliking such gatherings. The latter group, often made up of high-performing individuals who prioritise tangible outcomes, find themselves disengaged and frustrated during this time. Subjecting half the team repeatedly to something they don’t like can have long-term effects on their attitude, leading to a negative impact on overall team morale.

Counting Sheep, Not Ideas: The Illusion of Productivity

Thirdly, the productivity gained from regular group meetings is often overestimated. When half the crew has mentally checked out, you might as well be trying to solve world hunger by juggling watermelons, or catch fish by boiling the ocean (I’m practicing my corporate metaphores 🙂 ). These mind-numbing meetings rarely hit the mark when it comes to problem-solving, collaboration, or unleashing creative sparks. In reality, the majority of group meetings leave participants feeling demoralized or that the time invested was a sheer waste.

The Mythical Great Meeting

Lastly, while there may be exceptional teams that excel in conducting efficient and engaging meetings, such cases remain the exception rather than the norm. Relying on the hope that every meeting will be flawlessly executed by an exceptional leader is an ill-advised business decision. Organizations should consider alternative approaches to foster collaboration and productivity. Exploring innovative communication tools, adopting more targeted and purpose-driven meetings, and encouraging individual contributions can all contribute to a more efficient and engaged workforce.

So, before you pencil in your next group meeting, take a moment to reflect on the absurdity of it all. Don’t be afraid to ditch the old routine and find fresh ways to boost collaboration and get things done. In conclusion, it is crucial for organizations to critically evaluate the impact of regular group meetings on their teams. You boast about “Thinking out of the box” so much in the company’s recruitment website, here is an example to show real thinking out of the box by doing something different, creative and well thought out.