NOT ENOUGH MEETINGS?

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23 November 2023

Knowledge workers spend on average 85% of their time in meetings, which studies show negatively affects well-being. Not surprisingly many organizations are opting for meeting-free days. But how does this effect cooperation and productivity? A study* of companies who had implementing meeting-free days, found that: ONE meeting-free day a week resulted in: ✅ Autonomy: +62% ✅ Cooperation: +15% ✅ Engagement: +28% ✅ Productivity: +35% ✅ Stress: -26% With TWO meeting free days, the numbers jumped to: ✅ Autonomy: +78% ✅ Cooperation: +43% ✅ Engagement: +32% ✅ Productivity: +71% ✅ Stress: -43% Is there such thing as too few meetings, I hear you ask? THREE seems to be the optimum number of meeting-free days, according to the study. After that, metrics like productivity and satisfaction start declining and micromanagement starts creeping up again. ❓ What if anything, surprised you about these numbers? ❓ What is your experience of meeting free days? 📈 Take the poll: how many meeting-free days do you prefer: https://lnkd.in/dEJErM85 * The Surprising Impact of Meeting-Free Days. Benjamin Laker, Vijay Pereira, Pawan Budhwar, and Ashish Malik. MIT Sloan Management Review, January 18, 2022

Emma Vallin, Organizational & Leadership Consultant

Knowledge workers spend on average 85% of their time in meetings, which studies show negatively affects well-being. Not surprisingly many organizations are opting for meeting-free days.

But how does this effect cooperation and productivity?

A study* of companies who had implementing meeting-free days, found that:

ONE meeting-free day a week resulted in:
✅ Autonomy: +62%
✅ Cooperation: +15%
✅ Engagement: +28%
✅ Productivity: +35%
✅ Stress: -26%

With TWO meeting free days, the numbers jumped to:
✅ Autonomy: +78%
✅ Cooperation: +43%
✅ Engagement: +32%
✅ Productivity: +71%
✅ Stress: -43%

Is there such thing as too few meetings, I hear you ask?

THREE seems to be the optimum number of meeting-free days, according to the study. After that, metrics like productivity and satisfaction start declining and micromanagement starts creeping up again.

❓ What if anything, surprised you about these numbers?

❓ What is your experience of meeting free days?

📈 Take the poll: how many meeting-free days do you prefer: https://lnkd.in/dEJErM85

* The Surprising Impact of Meeting-Free Days. Benjamin Laker, Vijay Pereira, Pawan Budhwar, and Ashish Malik. MIT Sloan Management Review, January 18, 2022