Meetings That Don’t Suck the Soul: A Survival Guide
Somewhere along the way, we collectively decided that success meant filling our calendars with meetings. Endless invites, mysterious agendas, half the team on mute - it’s become an art form.
But here’s the thing: meetings don’t have to be painful. They can actually be useful. They might even be… dare we say it… good?
But here’s the good news: meetings don’t have to drain your will to live. With a few smart moves, they can actually achieve something. Maybe even be… enjoyable? Stay with me.
1. The 3-Minute Rule: Do We Really Need This?
Before booking a meeting, take three glorious, reflective minutes to ask yourself:
Can this be sorted in a quick email, a Slack message, or—dare I say it—a voice note?
Do we need everyone or just two people having a chat?
Will this meeting actually result in a decision, or is it just a ‘catch-up’ disguised as productivity?
If after three minutes you’re still convinced it’s worth gathering humans around screens or tables - fine. Book it. But at least you thought about it first. That already makes you better than half the internet.
2. From Passive Listeners to Active Contributors
We’ve all been there, sitting in meetings where a few people are nodding along, trying to be encouraging, but secretly wondering what’s for tea.
No shade - it happens to the best of us. But if you want real value from a meeting, it’s all about involvement, not just attendance. Start by asking open questions: “What’s your take on this?” or “If you were in charge, what would you do?”
By gently inviting people to share their thoughts, you turn meetings from passive listening exercises into proper conversations. It’s a simple shift, but it makes a world of difference, and nobody feels like they’re just there to fill a square on the screen.
3. Leave on a High (or at Least Not a Sigh)
End with clarity. Who’s doing what? By when? And can we all leave feeling like we didn’t just lose an hour of life we’ll never get back?
Better yet…end with a win. Share good news. Celebrate a small victory. Or at the very least, tell everyone to go make a proper cup of tea. Meetings shouldn’t end with existential dread - they should feel like progress.
Meetings don’t have to be evil. They just need purpose, participation, and preferably biscuits. Life’s too short for calendar chaos. Run better meetings. Be the hero your team didn’t know they needed.
