I love meetings. They’re a great way to combine chatting, coffee, and even work.

You know what I really enjoy about them? They encourage multi-tasking, facilitate teamwork, and allow me to hold sequential sidebars with underlings in front of everyone.

Multi-Tasking

Just by attending a meeting, you are doing work. Participation is optional compared to showing up, which should be enforced with strict penalties for violations. (Remember, only the leader can be late.)

If you accomplish other things while sitting there, you do two or three times the work. Talk about efficiency! I always bring in my laptop so I can check email and watch the company’s stock ticker. Sometimes I just play Candy Crush on my phone, since I’m already working anyway.

Teamwork

Working alone destroys the benefits of synergy. Instead, work on everyone’s individual projects as a team. You will accomplish a task slightly quicker with the a handful of people doing the work instead of just one person, all while giving them a break from their own projects.

Many hands make slight work.
–W. Albert Jameson, IV

Round Robin Sidebars

I have had status meetings with my managers for a long time, but I was tired of following up with each manager individually. Thus, I invite everyone to a single meeting that consists of back-to-back sidebars with each person in the room presenting what they formerly presented to me alone.

This is so much more efficient! Now I save so much of (my) time by not starting and ending appointments constantly.

Conclusion

If you run meetings like I do, multi-tasking and teamwork will increase while your hassle decreases. Start now and revolutionize productivity at your workplace already.

Productively,
W. Albert Jameson, IV

PS — I’m typing this during a meeting right now!