I’m looking forward to when we can meet in person again. In anticipation, I’m collecting ideas about why we meet and for how long. So far, I’m focusing on three meeting types. This post highlights two best practices for short and focused meetings that also translate virtually. Plus, a fun bingo game in case you are stuck in a meeting that goes astray.
Short meetings (10-15 Minutes)
I like these. Especially when they happen spontaneously. 10-15 minutes gives you time to connect, address a question, move something forward. Sadly, short meetings are all too rare. According to organizational psychologist Steven Rogelberg:
Short meetings with a focused agenda can have tremendously positive effects. Plus, they align with the existing research on limited human attention spans and fatigue.
His article “How to reap big returns from meetings that are just 10 to 15 minutes long” is excellent and worth reading if you want more short meetings.
Focused Meetings (25-30 Minutes)
In my ideal world, this would be the standard meeting slot. As Peter Bregman observes:
If you have [limited time] to accomplish something, you become hyper-aware of how you’re using that time. And hyper-focused during it....[People on 30 minute calls,] aware of the time constraint, are more thoughtful about when they speak, and more careful not to follow tangents that aren’t useful."
His 2016 HBR article “The Magic of 30 Minute Meetings” should be standard reading for new managers.
Long Meetings (1+ hours)
As a facilitator, I could write a lot about long meetings. That will be a future topic. That said, if I were to sum up great long meetings, I’d say they include time for:
Connecting as humans
Learning together
Thinking (and/or reflecting)
Deciding next actions
Sadly, long meetings too often require this:
What do you miss about meetings? Do you have a favorite duration? If so, why? Can you have more meetings like that? What is the best advice you’ve ever received about leading an excellent meeting? If you were coaching a new manager, what one piece of advice would you give them about meetings?