It’s nothing new that the pandemic has aggravated our suffering from ineffective meetings. We transferred our already poor physical meeting practices to the digital sphere, worsening the situation. This is worrisome, especially since our overall meeting time has increased.
Our industrial-era approach to organizing human productivity is outdated. We still conduct meetings in a linear input-output manner, treating humans like supercomputers that need input, processing time, and then output. Ironically, as AI advances, we are beginning to realize that this machine-like view of human intelligence is inadequate.
Rethinking human productivity. When traditional methods fail, we often look to
tech industry leaders for new insights on human productivity. Recently, the polarising Sam
Altman, CEO of ChatGPT, introduced fresh ideas on how to allow human
productivity to flourish cited in a recent German blog post.
Sanctify the most productive time of the day. Our creative capacities unfold best when we value regeneration, pauses, and times when our brain is most refreshed. Consequently, Sam Altman proposes making mornings a sacred, meeting-free space, honoring the universally most focused, productive, and creative time. This includes not checking emails and instead investing time in reading, reflection, and conceptual work. This approach is reminiscent of German author Thomas Mann, who only wrote in the mornings and never opened his letter post box before lunchtime. While this depends on the type of work of course, considering our universal internal biorhythm in work planning would certainly benefit performance.
Eliminate the 1-hour meeting. If human productivity lies in the connectivity of our brains, then 45-60 minute meetings are too short. How can we build trust, connect, and build on each other's knowledge in such a short time? In this vein, Sam Altman makes a radical case for getting out of the 45-60 minute meeting habit. Instead, he recommends 2-hour meetings for deep thinking and 20-minute meetings for quick coordination, sometimes even over email.
What are your renewed productivity rules? Experimenting with these ideas, I have found a lot of merit in Altman's approach to understanding, valuing, and responding to human productivity in more appropriate ways. Personally, I try to keep my mornings free from meetings as much as possible and schedule 1.5 to 2-hour meetings for coaching or management team discussions. While this initially feels extensive to most, over time, the effectiveness and improved relationships become evident.
What have been your renewed productivity rules? Please let me know by sharing below or directly with me!
