Time is finite. No matter how many tasks and meetings we pack into a day, the end of the day comes.
Time runs out.
We can count on that.
Leaders are spending more time than even in meetings. This time is well spent when meetings help us to create, connect and learn. If attending a meeting will help you to create, connect and learn, then this is a valuable way to spend your time. If not, consider saying no.
Here are five things to look forward to help you say NO to meetings like these:
1. The meeting purpose is not clear.
Without a clear meeting purpose, it’s hard to be prepared and even harder to contribute. The meeting risks being overtaken by the strongest voice or spinning into multiple directions with no one leaving energized or clear about next steps. It’s better not to meet until the purpose of the meeting can be clearly stated.
2. The meeting is masking the need for an accountability discussion.
From time to time, work stalls. When this happens, a common reflex is to call a meeting to get it going again. However, teams often know where the roadblock is and who can remove it. If one person’s action is needed to get the work going again, have the discussion with that one person. There’s no reason to waste the time of many just to avoid what might be an important, albeit uncomfortable, discussion with one.
3. The meeting is to achieve consensus.
Consensus is a trap. Go for commitment instead. Consensus is getting everyone to agree. Commitment is getting everyone to buy-in regardless of whether they agree. While consensus might make you feel better in the short term when everyone agrees, the quality of the decision is probably watered down. Commitment will take you farther, faster with better decisions. If you are meeting to get consensus, reconsider.
4. The meeting is a proxy for the decision maker.
Getting people together to make a decision is not a good use of meeting time. Getting people together to consult and provide input to a decision maker is an excellent use of meeting time. If there is a decision to make, be clear on who has the authority to make it and support that person in making the best, most timely decision they can make.
5. Alternative methods of communication work just as well.
Sometimes what is discussed in a meeting can be shared in an email or some other electronic channel, such as Slack. If your team has a standing meeting every Monday afternoon because that is what you always do, and all you have is an update, save everyone the time and provide the update another way.
Being attentive to which meetings get your time and which meetings don’t, will help you to be more focused, productive, and engaged.
With this limited, finite gift of time that we receive each day, what makes the cut on your calendar? What is important enough to get a slice of time in your valuable time?
Every time you say no to something, you are saying yes to something else. By saying “no” to certain meetings, what would that allow you to say “yes” to?
