Meetings Aren’t the Problem - It’s How You Run Them That’s Killing Everyone.

Let’s be honest: the only thing people complain about more than emails are meetings. And for good reason. Most meetings suck. They’re long, aimless, and make everyone dumber by the end.

But here’s the catch - meetings aren’t inherently bad. In fact, well-run meetings can solve problems faster than anything else. The problem is how you’re running them.

Studies will show we all have limited cognitive energy. Every time you drag people into yet another unstructured, purposeless meeting, you burn through their focus and motivation. And when nothing gets decided? You kill morale.

If you want to fix your meetings:

• Only meet if there’s something to decide. Status updates? Send an email.

• Cap the time and stick to it. Parkinson’s Law is real: the task will take as long as you allow.

• Invite the smallest group possible. More people means more politics, less progress.

• Assign ownership. Every action item needs a name on it.

Stop blaming the calendar. Start blaming your leadership habits. Because your meetings are either fueling your team’s momentum or making them fantasize about quitting.