{"id":5426,"date":"2022-09-27T13:05:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T13:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/?p=5426"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:41:59","slug":"how-to-run-effective-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/how-to-run-effective-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Run Effective Meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you heard of MAS<\/strong>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an acronym coined by David Grady<\/a>, meaning \u201cMindless Accept Syndrome\u201d<\/em> \u2014 an involuntary reflex in which a person accepts a meeting invitation without ever thinking why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re surely familiar with this phenomenon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about meeting recovery syndrome<\/em><\/strong>? Maybe you\u2019ve experienced it without knowing about it \u2014 it involves the mental recovery time you need after an excruciating meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what\u2019s one thing common to these two syndromes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ineffective meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that, according to research, only around 50% of the meetings are effective<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is that so? And, how can we change that? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find the answers to these and other questions, keep on reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog post, we\u2019ll show you how to run effective meetings and maybe change some future statistics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, we\u2019ll consider whether you really need a meeting and what your problems with meetings are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll then deal with the functions of a meeting and see what makes a meeting effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, we\u2019ll provide you with tips on how to make your virtual meetings effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n
\n Your video conferencing tool<\/span>\n

Reinforce your team. Choose how you communicate. Try Pumble by CAKE.com.<\/p>\n\n

\n Sign up<\/a>\n\n Learn more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n \"Illustration\"\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n

Do you really need a meeting? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Pumble\u2019s meeting statistics<\/a>, unproductive meetings cost US businesses a whopping $37 billion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, are meetings still necessary, or are they still here for historical<\/em> rather than practical<\/em> reasons? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me tell you a short story about meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that El Tribunal de las Aguas <\/em>(The Water Court)<\/a> <\/em>in Valencia is the oldest existing justice institution in Europe? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is even protected by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time, it really was the most important meeting people could have, regarding the irrigation system of their crops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was the <\/em>place to settle all your disputes concerning the watering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, today, it\u2019s there exclusively for historical reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mind you, this story, albeit charming, cannot serve as an excuse for your excessive meetings practice \u2014 after all, your meetings aren\u2019t protected by UNESCO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, to make sure your regular meetings are not just a force of habit but are still useful, consider the following chart \u2014 to make an informed decision when in doubt about whether you should have a meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emails and chat apps are for\u2026<\/strong><\/th>Meetings are for\u2026<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Quick reminders<\/strong><\/td>Discussions about the strategy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Deadlines and due dates<\/strong><\/td>Project planning<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Minor issues<\/strong><\/td>Major problems<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Task assignments <\/strong><\/td>Making a decision<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Quick check-ins <\/strong><\/td>Setting a team goal<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Private feedback<\/strong><\/td>Public praise<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Communicate quickly via 1-on-1 and group messages on Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you\u2019ve analyzed the situation and reached the decision to schedule a meeting, it\u2019s time we remind you of the functions of a meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The functions of a meeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In his HBR article, How to run a meeting<\/em><\/a>, Antony Jay highlights 6 main functions<\/strong> of a meeting, which surpass the pure communicative needs of a company:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. A meeting defines the team, the group, or the unit <\/strong>\u2014 those who attend the meeting are a part of the team \u2014 they are one unit. Those who aren\u2019t in the meeting, don\u2019t belong to this unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. A meeting provides you with opportunities to revise what you know<\/strong>, give updates, and add to what your group should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. A meeting helps each team member understand both the collective goal of the group<\/strong> and how each person can contribute to the company\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. A meeting helps all the attendees commit to the decisions and the objectives of the company<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. A meeting is sometimes the only occasion where the team or group actually exists and works together as a group.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. A meeting is a status arena<\/strong> \u2014 it is the chance for the participants to find out their relative standing within the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These functions of the meeting apply to different types of meetings, and should be carefully considered when deciding whether you should have a meeting or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly<\/em> is our problem with meetings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OK, we know meetings are essential for our business and we refreshed our knowledge about their function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what exactly is our problem with meetings? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his dramatically-titled book, Death by Meeting<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Patrick Lencioni highlights two problems with meetings \u2014 they are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n