I Decline Meetings by Default. This is How it Boosted My Productivity.
<h1>Five simple calendar changes and meeting habits will boost your productivity.</h1>
<p>Time is the most precious thing to have. No matter the amount of other resources, there will be no creation, production, or service if there’s no time left. Even the most trained and skilled basketball player needs time to take the winning shot. Zeros on the shot clock, and there is no point, literally.</p>
<p>Yet, in business, we continue to waste time in meetings (e.g., HBR, 2022 — “Dear Manager, you’re holding too many meetings”). Sometimes, it’s a hidden waste of time: three persons from the same team or management chain, incorrect people or groups invited to discuss a topic, meetings that cover already resolved issues, or a readout on a project to large groups. Interestingly enough, more often, the waste is visible: lack of clear meeting outcome, no follow-up actions, no decision making, missing meeting minutes, colleagues complaining about “having back-to-back meetings” or “being fully booked today,” and ultimately reduced productivity. Why was I invited to this meeting?</p>
<p>I have made five changes to my meeting and calendar habits that helped increase my productivity immediately after implementation. Now, I coach my team to decline meetings by default and only accept invites after careful review.</p>
<h2>1. Reduce the calendar available/busy timeslots visibility</h2>
<p>Have you ever needed to book time with your chief executive or other senior members? Chances are that you had to contact the executive assistant or business manager to ask for a 20 — or 30-minute timeslot, together with a justification why you need the time. This powerful gate-keeping function serves a couple of purposes. It protects against disrupting routines and distracting focus time and also allows the gatekeeper to assess for efficiency gains by grouping similar types of meetings or activities.</p>
<p><a href="https://michelbakkenes.medium.com/i-decline-meetings-by-default-this-is-how-it-boosted-my-productivity-2ac28a7d56e0"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>