So... Why am I on this meeting, again?

Async team communication

Problem:

After COVID hit the fan, managers were struggling to put corporate office practices in people's homes. What can possible go wrong? Lets do all do same things, just over Zoom and Slack this time. Don't get me wrong, lot of companies were messing this things in earlier tries to make teleworking in their companies, but this exploded in 2020.

So, what is wrong with this?

Working from home has some other challenges and opportunities. Yes you are full of distractions and other things to do, but instead of forcing you not to do it we can embrace it. For example I live near a lake. I like swimming and kayaking and that clears my mind really good.

I can go with classic office model 8h "work". Sharp brain for 2h and spend rest on autopilot. When my work is done I can go for kayaking or complain how I missed best time of day for that because of my work.

I can also work few hours. Use good time of day for kayaking and come back to work refreshed, more productive and happier.
For me 2nd option is way better hands down. Most people are prevented to do something like this because they have bunch of meetings during a day, or they have company computers that report you if you don't show sines of life. Honestly, how much time have you spent playing on your phone while pretending to be present on meetings? In this case company forced you to brows social media instead of doing something more meaningful like sport or family time. But don't worry they will send you on webinar to explain how family and sport time are important. You'll go to social media on this seminar two, we both know that.

I'm still to meet anyone to enthusiastically tell me "When is next meeting? I cant wait!" Yes, meetings are the best part of my day, too. I love that they interrupt my flow or are in time that would be perfect for kayaking. Best is if they are hour long without planned agenda and sole reason I was called was because my e-mail was on some list.

Best measure for how important is meeting to people present is how many of them are checking their phones, emails or just zoned out. Meetings do have price. Ten people times their hourly wages. Is it worth it? If they don't need to be there it is better if they watch their show for one hour if they are not working. They would be happier at least.

Solution:

First step is admitting: home_office != corporate_office

Time

Is 9 to 5 that important? OK if you need to answer phones in that time but for most of people that is not a case. Block of 8h is vanity metrics copied from factories. One worker screws 1k per hour. More hours, more screws, more money for company. If you need to think adding more hours to your work is game with diminishing returns. Instead result based metric is much better. Sure that would mean that manages would need to tell clear expectations to workers. Lot of managers don't understand programming as good as looking at the clock, so 8h is easier to measure for them.

In short, give workers clear expectations and let them do whatever as long as they deliver expected results. People will be productive to get that freedom of choice, or they need to be compensated for freedom taken from them.

Meetings

Don't have one. "This could have been email" is 95% of time true

If it is some presentation that people need to see. Make it as video. Mark chapters so people can skip to parts relevant for them and stream it on platform that can be played on 2x speed. You can have Q&A on later date if that is important.
Make agenda and list of people that should actually hear it. If you think someone will look at their phone on meeting, don't call them, it's Okay. Send agenda in advanced so people will reed and prepare, or say that it is not relevant for them.

1 on 1 is the best. "Latitude hurts longitude kills" is mantra I heard too many times. It's sorry excuse for having unproductive meetings. I was on calls with people from India, Europe and USA. India is sleepy because it is late, US because it's early and Europe is thinking my "Just this and I'm out!"

Most of this could have been prerecorded + one short discussion later if needed.

Takeaway:

• Don't make make meetings a party for your ego. In person meetings are for constructive two-way communications only!
• Find medium that can be consumed on convenient time for recipient. Be respectful of other people's time and flow.
• You may get best answers if people digest material and answer later, after thinking a bit. Who needs another slant Q&A session at the end of PowerPoint?
• Don't use meetings to control your subordinates. Be clear about company expectations and give them freedom to fulfill them at their own pace.