We have all survived terrible meetings.
You know that feeling you have after a bad meeting where you are exhausted and unmotivated? It turns out that there is a term for it: Meeting Hangover.
A recent article in Harvard Business Review reports a survey that shows 90% of workers have experienced this at least occasionally. Research also finds these root causes of bad meetings:
- Irrelevance of topics discussed (59%)
- Lack of clear agenda or objectives (59%)
- Poor time management (53%)
- Lack of actionable outcomes or follow-up (48%)
- Unequal (39%) or low (38%) participation
- Ineffective facilitation (30%)
I can hear you exclaiming “YES!” after each of these!
Feel free to share this blog with co-workers. Let’s face it, we can all do better in meetings. Here are some ideas to help eliminate Meeting Hangover:
1. Create Agendas with Action Items. Attach an action-oriented question to each agenda item. This will guide discussion. Send the agenda out at least a day prior so people can come to the meeting ready to engage.
2. Facilitate, Don’t Dominate. This is not an opportunity for you – as the boss – to give a speech to the team. The purpose of most meetings is group problem solving. Get everyone involved and discuss ideas. If you want to share information, send an email.
3. Stay on Time. Start on time, move the meeting along, and end on time – or early if you are done. People will adore you for this.
4. Build in Accountability. You don’t need to keep meeting minutes, but someone does need to write down what each person agreed to do following the meeting and this needs to be sent out to everyone afterwards. Follow-up and start your next meeting with updates on what people promised to do.
Meetings do not have to be terrible! Make this your personal mission. Meetings can actually energize and focus people. With the proper prep and facilitation, your meetings can be those that people look forward to.
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Reed, B. N., et. al. “The Hidden Toll of Meeting Hangovers,” Harvard Business Review online, February 12, 2025.
