Top 10 Reasons Office Workers Hate Boring, Unproductive Office Meetings

Having been a corporate worker in a cubicle for almost 25 years, I can tell you the most hated activity for me and my coworkers is the meeting. Now I want to be fair. Not all meetings make you feel like you’d rather be sitting in the pits of hell. But close. Since my latest book, Is It Monday Already?! 197 Tools and Tips to Start Living Happier at Work, was published many office professionals have provided great feedback and the number one issue they tell me they all hate at work are boring, unproductive meetings.

In our discussions, here are the top 10 things they absolutely hate:

1. Disorganized Meetings

Attending a meeting that is not organized is torture for the participants. This often happens when the meeting organizer fails to provide information prior to the meeting so people cannot plan properly for things they need to contribute. Or when the organizer doesn’t have a clear plan, doesn’t invite the correct participants or other issues that lead to wasted time and energy because nothing is accomplished.

2. No Agenda

Good meetings all use agendas to stay on track and get things accomplished. Better meetings distribute the agenda with the meeting invitation.

3. No Meeting Goal

The best meetings have a goal on the agenda so all participants understand what the group is trying to accomplish that is the reason for the meeting.

4. Poor Follow Up

At the meeting’s end there should be a clear plan for accomplishing the meeting goal if it wasn’t completely reached during the meeting.

5. Lack of Leadership

Few things are more irritating than a spineless meeting organizer who can’t control their meeting.

6. Critiquing Before All Ideas are Presented

Especially in a brainstorming meeting when you are trying to get fresh ideas and perspectives, letting people start to critique prior to getting imput from all participants will squelch the creativity and confidence and lead to fewer ideas and a less diverse perspective about the solution.

7. Interrupting

This is a hard one for some people, myself included. But it’s rude and it’s wrong so just stop, in meetings or anywhere else.

8. Domineering Personalities

The meeting leader needs to take responsibility for ensuring their meeting is a safe space for everyone to express their perspectives in order to reach the goal.

9. Late Start

Waiting for key participants is often the reason for this issue in office meetings. Senior management is often the culprit in these situations.

10. Too Long

That feeling when you begin to wonder if the meeting will ever end.

Okay, that’s what I’m hearing. I want to know what you think. Join in the conversation and take this one question survey –>> CLICK HERE.