We often think of meetings as something that slows down the real work of the business or project. We frequently hear people say, ‘we haven’t got time to meet weekly, so let’s do it monthly or fortnightly’.

Research suggests the opposite to be true. Teams are more likely to achieve their goals on time when they meet more frequently, and for shorter periods. This is particularly true when the environment is constantly changing. Consider the fast-changing game of basketball – managers call ‘time-out’ in between quarters to have a ‘huddle’ or team meeting.

Since we all compete in a world where change is accelerating, it makes sense to develop frequent, short meetings for our teams. Teams should meet daily for about 5 to 10 minutes and follow a tight and agreed agenda. What can’t be covered in these meetings can then be picked up at meetings scheduled weekly and monthly.

When we work with teams to set up these daily meetings we notice communication improves and productivity skyrockets.