The Pros and Cons of Frequent Office Meetings

Not everyone feels comfortable with having meetings. They disrupt employees from doing their respective tasks. However, it seems like meetings are already part of any company. There are pros and cons to hosting frequent meetings.

Pros

• Everyone is on the same page. With constant meetings, people in the room are on the same page. They become more aware of what’s happening at work. Things can move forward if no one gets left behind.
• There’s an opportunity to speak up. Meetings provide a chance for employees to share their thoughts. Finally, there’s a safe space for them to discuss what they have in mind to help improve the business or how things operate. Some employees are hesitant to speak with the people on top and share their ideas. With meetings, everyone has a chance to discuss and ask questions.
• Pro: Some employees have a chance to take the lead. The good thing about meetings is that it offers some employees to speak up and express their ideas. Not everyone finds it natural to be in front of people who might be critical about what they have to say. The meeting becomes a training ground for these employees to explore their leadership skills. Ensure you show support by investing in equipment needed for the presentation, like a projector on ceiling and sound system. It’s not easy to talk when you don’t have the items you need.

Cons

• It’s annoying. Some people don’t find meetings to be productive. They usually don’t produce the desired results. Many agendas remain unresolved despite long discussions. People waste their time sitting in a room when they could be elsewhere and finishing their tasks.
• It can be divisive. When you put dozens of brains in the same room, expect arguments. There’s nothing wrong with it, especially in a professional setting. The problem is that not everyone is mature enough to handle disagreements. Some employees take the fight personally. Things get heated. Instead of fixing problems, more issues arise.
• Some meetings don’t have to happen. As they say, some meetings can be just an email. The management team keeps calling for one to feel good about themselves. They also look like leaders when they’re discussing issues with the group. The truth is they can send the information via email, and there’s no need to disturb people’s time.
• It lessens productivity level. Another issue with frequent meetings is they take people’s precious time away. Instead of working on more important tasks, they had to sit down and listen to long conversations. Some of them don’t even involve them. They worry because they only have a limited time to get things done and attend the meetings.

The point is that meetings can be good or bad. If done all the time, they might be counterproductive. Make sure that if you call for a meeting, you inform everyone days ahead. Be clear with the agenda and let the people involved know how important their presence is.