ARE WE REALLY IN MEETINGS MORE OFTEN?

That would be a definite “Yes”. The implications in the workplace are rather staggering.

Pre-pandemic, for those who can recall that time, saw the average professional office worker engaged in meetings 14.2 hours per week. Now, with all of the logistical and staffing issues created by the pandemic, in-office meetings now account for an average of 21.5 hours per week.

It would seem essential for businesses to be looking for ways to cut down on required meeting times but there is little indication that they are. The research seems to show that meeting hours per week continue to increase. The conclusion is clear that business leaders feel that in-person meetings account for mostly “time well spent”.

This would seem to be a profitable path for business gurus and advisers. How to cut down on physical meeting time while still generating ideas such meetings can generate.

So just how do we cut down in-person meetings while still maintaining their effectiveness in a pandemic work environment that would seem to necessitate frequent gatherings of the troops?