Sometimes we treat meetings a a time suck that gets in the way of productive work, the research says meetings actually predict how productive we are.
Researchers at TU Braunschweig filmed 92 real team meetings and coded every statement.
Teams that solved problems and planned actions were more productive, and their organisations were doing better up to two and a half years later. Complaining and criticising did the opposite.
Why? When a meeting is productive, people leave satisfied to act on what was agreed. That lifts productivity, which lifts the business.
What makes a good meeting?
Bring a problem, not just updates
Get clear on the problem before jumping to fixes
Ask for input and solutions early
Steer back to the agenda when things go off track
Close with actions
If you’d like to explore how to improve your team's meeting habits, book a free 30 minute consultation and I’ll do my best to help!
Source
Kauffeld, S. and Lehmann-Willenbrock, N. (2012). Meetings Matter: Effects of Team Meetings on Team and Organizational Success. Small Group Research, 43(2), 130-158. The two-versus-eight statements figure is from Kauffeld's Q&A with the publisher.