Meetingception: Atlassian finds 74% of meetings are used to plan more meetings

Atlassian has released a new report on meeting culture and workplace productivity, with 76% of respondents saying that meetings were the primary obstacle to completing their work — beating out ‘unclear goals’, ‘lack of motivation’ and ‘unclear responsibilities’.

This follows a similar report from the Australian unicorn back in January, which took aim at forcing people back into offices.

This new survey included 5,000 respondents from Australia, the United States, India, Germany, and France and revealed widespread concerns over the efficacy of meetings.

Perhaps the most relatable figure from the report was that 74% of respondents often find themselves in meetings that result in the planning of more meetings, suggesting a cyclical pattern that consumes significant work time.

Working overtime to make up for meetings

The survey also highlights a lack of direction in meetings, with 64% of participants attending meetings that fail to state a clear goal.

This issue contributes to extended work hours for 46% of the respondents, who report needing to work overtime to manage their regular workload due to meeting overload.

Atlassian’s study suggests that the reliance on meetings as a primary tool for collaboration might be counterproductive.

It advocates for a more diverse set of collaboration techniques to effectively meet team needs. The report notes that the prevalence of meetings not only hampers productivity but also impacts workers’ well-being, with many feeling drained and isolated despite frequent interactions.

To address the challenges posed by excessive meetings, the report suggests several strategies, including prioritising tasks, blocking out time for focused work, and allowing for flexible collaboration opportunities.

Here’s a solution Atlassian prepared earlier

In a somewhat cheeky move, the report suggested exploring alternatives to traditional meetings, specifically highlighting video messaging platform Loom.

Atlassian purchased Loom in October 2023 for $1.5 billion.

“Video messages are easier to create than an email and faster to consume than a meeting. Platforms like Loom let teammates get up to date at their convenience, with the option to watch at up to 2x speed or just read an AI-generated transcript,” the report reads.

Besides the casual product placement, the report does shed light on a growing concern from workers. It raises important questions and urges organisations to rethink their strategies and adopt more efficient collaboration methods to mitigate the productivity drain and enhance workplace satisfaction.