Breathing new life into meetings: are they really dead?
While some business leaders have recently called time on meetings as a mode of working, our research shows love for meetings to be at an all-time high. We think the reality lies somewhere in the middle – meetings are not dead, but we need a mental and technical shift in the modern workplace to make them work.
This blog post is a summary of the first chapter of Mentimeter’s new State of Meetings Report. You can download the full report here.
In recent times, meetings have come under scrutiny. This workplace staple has evolved to adapt to the new-normal work culture fostered by the pandemic. The shift from traditional face-to-face interactions to virtual or hybrid meetings has triggered a conversation about the relevance and effectiveness of meetings in today's workplace. With a mix of disdain and mockery surrounding meetings in popular culture, the question arises – Are meetings dead?
Managers think meetings are productive, but do their employees agree?
Mentimeter's recent survey, The State of Meetings Report: The new rules of engagement delves into this issue, gauging the perceptions of North American business leaders and decision-makers to unpack the truth about our relationship with meetings at this moment. Contrary to popular belief, a significant majority of people hold a positive view of meetings. A whopping 72% dismissed the idea that meetings are a thing of the past. In fact, many expressed overwhelmingly positive sentiments towards them. When asked about the effectiveness of their meetings, 96% said that their meetings were productive. And 94% agreed that meetings are a generally productive avenue to propel work forward.
Not everyone experiences meetings the same
The survey uncovered a gap in how introverts and extroverts experience meetings. While 90% of extroverts think meetings are effective and productive, only 70% of introverts share this feeling. This 20% difference shows the need to reconsider our approach to meetings, which may not work for everyone. Many leaders and managers identify as extroverts. This means many may be running meetings in a way that people in their teams find unproductive.
Modern meetings for a modern workplace
The findings underscore a critical takeaway for modern-day leaders - adaptability is key. The need for meetings certainly isn't dead; rather, the conventional approach to conducting them needs a revamp. If we tailor meetings to accommodate diverse personalities and work styles, and foster an environment where every participant can engage meaningfully, we can help debunk the notion that meetings are dead.
As we continue to grapple with the engagement crisis in meetings, we need leaders to innovate and evolve meeting cultures. By doing so, not only can we show that meetings are dead, but we can also breathe new life into them… making meetings a venue for good communication and collaborative decision-making.
This blog post is a summary of the first chapter of Mentimeter’s new State of Meetings Report. You can download the full report here.
