Office meetings aren’t always the highlight in our day—particularly when the outcome proves to be only the illusion of productivity. So, is there an antidote to this dreaded, wasteful time?

According to a recent article, business owners and employees have found that the inclusion of water guns, games and role reversals are just what the doctor ordered. But Ann Latham, president and founder of Uncommon Clarity, cautions against this prescription:

Making them ‘fun’ does not make them productive or do anything about the work being neglected or accumulating during the meeting. If you want to make people hate meetings less, make the meetings productive. If you only add ‘fun,’ people will likely just view it as more wasted time.

Yes it’s true: making meetings productive will surely make them easier to attend. But that’s besides the point. This declaration seems just as easy a remedy as consuming the supposed productivity shortcut of a “magic drink.” Yet, actually figuring out how to accomplish it is far from simple. After all, if attaining productivity in a meeting was so easy, wouldn’t everyone feel satisfied and on track at the end of the time spent together? In Slaughter Development’s view, half the problem with long, drawn-out business meetings is a company’s inability to define their own, unique standards of productivity.

Before solutions can be integrated, companies need to answer three questions. First, what does productivity even mean to them? Second, what elements need to be met in order to achieve productivity? Third, what awaits the company once productivity is reached? Without answering these three questions, reducing the amount of time stakeholders spend on “wasting time” will continue.

There is no doubt, discovering the right path in workflow is an intricate process. So, empower employees to contemplate how to work smarter. Encourage them to contribute their ideas by answering the questions above.  By involving everyone, the mission for productivity not only becomes a group endeavor, but creates a realistic and tangible vision for success.

If your company wants to increase productivity but needs help defining its standards, contact Slaughter Development today! We will assist in sharpening and developing your ideas on everyday work.

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