I have been reflecting on meetings lately and realized they are a lot like email. To write a good email it takes thought. Anyone can write a 2 page email that goes on and on with the point buried 600 words into the text. A truly great business communicator makes the point clearly and in as few words as possible. From Harvard Business Essential – Business Communication:

‘Keep your message short. Try to pull all pertinent information on the first screen page’

‘Cover only one topic per email’

To do this requires thought, effort and planning – which most people do not put into their emails. They write long winding text that goes on and on and on, just like meetings.

A great meeting requires planning, thought and as little time as possible. What I find is that most meetings are poorly thought out and people err on the way of time over preparation (Which means that we will just make the meeting longer so that we can get to a point with little direction and little planning).

I have moved to start making meetings 30 minutes (instead of the default 1 hour) and am very focused on ensuring that there is thought into the meeting – or why have it?