Dr. Rick Goodman, The Team Building Expert, explains why some meetings are unproductive and overly long—and how they can be fixed. For more information visit: www.rickgoodman.com

1. Are You Wasting Time in Your Team
Meetings?

2. • In recent years, there has been something of a
backlash against team meetings.
• Do a quick Google search and you will find plenty
of articles arguing that meetings are nothing but
wasted time—and that they should be altogether
abolished!
– Of course, this is an overstatement.
• You need to have a company culture in which
communication is paramount, and sometimes a
scheduled meeting or a team huddle is simply the
best way to accomplish that.

3. • But even when a meeting is necessary, it can
still prove overly long, inefficient, and
unproductive.
• And that’s a source of frustration for
everyone:
– Team leaders hate to lose that productive time,
but employees are just as annoyed to have their
precious hours put to ill use!

4. How to Know if Your Meetings
are Wasteful
All of this begs the question: How do
you know if your meetings are simply
wastes of time?

5. Some warning signs:
• You cannot easily articulate why you’re having a
meeting.
– Simply having a meeting is not the same thing as
getting something done.
– What are you trying to accomplish in your team
meeting?
– What are the goals?
– What are the action steps that you hope will result?
– If you struggle to answer these questions, then the
meeting is likely not needed.

6. • You do not provide employees with an
agenda in advance.
– When does the meeting begin, and what are the
issues that will be addressed?
• Tell this to your employees in advance.
• If you don’t, you run the risk of latecomers, or of
employees who are already checked out and
unengaged before the meeting even begins.

7. • Your meetings are really just lectures.
– If you’re just talking at people, rambling on
without engagement, then your employees will
just be snoozing—and your meeting will
absolutely be a waste of time.
– Instead:
• Foster collaboration
• Ask for feedback and input
• Ask questions
• Move toward action steps
• Make meetings really engaging.

8. • Your meetings are too long.
– If your employees are spending five hours of each
week sitting in meetings, well, don’t be surprised
when they’re burned out and frustrated.
– Make your meetings as succinct and as impactful
as possible.
– Really prepare for them to make sure they’re
quick and, again, focused on action steps, not just
rambling discussion.

9. Are your meetings wastes of time—
or are they truly engaging your
team, fostering communication, and
moving everyone forward?
It’s something to think about before
your next meeting!

10. About Dr. Rick Goodman
• Dr. Rick Goodman CSP is a thought leader in the world of leadership
and is known as one of the most sought after team building experts
in the United States and internationally.
• He is famous for helping organizations, corporations, and
individuals with systems and strategies that produce increased
profits and productivity without having the challenges of micro
managing the process. Some of Dr. Rick’s clients include AT&T,
Boeing, Cavium Networks, Heineken, IBM, and Hewlett Packard.
• For more information on Rick’s speaking programs, audio programs,
and learning programs, contact (888) 267-6098 or
Rick@rickgoodman.com, or visit www.rickgoodman.com.