Tips to Reduce Unnecessary Meetings for Game Producers

Struggling with endless meetings but seeing little progress? Let's cut through the noise with Real-Time Debriefs—a strategy that revolutionized my team’s productivity. 🕒 Forget about adding to your workload. This method is about leveraging the discussions you’re already having into moments of actionable insight. Quick debriefs post-interaction or meeting keep your team agile and forward-moving. Here's the tactical advantage: ✔Efficiency: Instantly capture and apply insights, eliminating the need for follow-up meetings. ✔Trust & Relationships: Foster a culture of trust with immediate, open feedback. ✔Problem-Solving: Tackle issues promptly, preventing them from escalating. Meeting Load: Dramatically cut down on unnecessary meetings, saving everyone time. This method has been a game-changer for us, respecting time differences and busy schedules, while ensuring our performance and teamwork stay sharp. Try this: After your next project or meeting, engage in a quick debrief. Share and solicit feedback immediately. Watch how it transforms team dynamics and efficiency. Real-Time Debriefs are more than a technique—they're about adopting a mindset of continuous, on-the-spot improvement. Dive in and see the difference it makes. #RealTimeDebrief #ProductivityHack #TeamDynamics #Gladtobehere #Leadership

Focus on getting things done, not on talking about getting things done Let's talk about meetings — I find myself questioning their true value. They seem to be a theatrical display of productivity, with too much time spent on formalities and too little on the matters at hand. Are they just a comfort blanket for the corporate world, providing a sense of progress? My guess is yes. I've been dodging meetings for years, ruthlessly declining invitations for gatherings that have an aim to “discuss” rather than “decide.” Only 3 out of 10 attendees speak while the others just bear witness, and what’s the outcome? More often than not, vague takeaways that get translated into concrete tasks post-meeting. Are we prioritizing talk over action? For a long time now, I've limited myself to a maximum of three meetings per day, which has drastically improved my focus and productivity. Now, I'm contemplating dialing it down further, reducing it to two and shrinking a typical half-hour call to 25 minutes. Every minute matters. The philosophy behind this? It’s simple — focus on getting things done, not on talking about getting things done. As a fan of deep work, I want to leverage the power of asynchronous communication methods, giving myself and others the space and time to think before responding. On calls, you're pressured to provide instant answers, often resulting in half-baked ideas. Here's my golden trio for effective communication: 📱 Slack for quick responses to urgent matters. ✉ Email to keep everyone in the loop on tasks that can wait. 📄 Google Docs for ideating, aligning, criticizing, and translating thoughts into actionable tasks. Meetings? They consume time and yield very little. If we have to resort to email and documents to clarify and finalize ideas post-meeting, then perhaps it's time to reconsider the necessity of the meeting itself. #Productivity #TimeManagement #DeepWork

A calendar full of meetings ≠ productivity It can be easy to fall into the mind trap that a fuller schedule means that you're doing more and delivering more to your company. I go through periods in which I allow myself to get way over scheduled and don't have time to do really important work. Then I fall way behind and work long hours to catch up. Doing good, productive work requires uninterrupted time. It requires focus, and it requires the discipline to allow myself to say no to meetings. Saying no to meetings, or forcing meetings to be focused and productive is an underrated skill - I admire those who are good at it. I love the Eisenhower Matrix of how to prioritize work. I think this can also be applied to determine if a meeting should be scheduled or not. For example... Is the topic urgent & important? = schedule the meeting ASAP (Note, I'm making the assumption that the topic can't be resolved via email, which >50% of meeting topics can be resolved via email) Is the topic not urgent, but important? = schedule the meeting for 2-3 weeks away, and ensure everyone is prepared for the meeting so it is focused and effectively, scheduling only the amount of time needed (If the topic, or part of the topic, can be resolved in the meantime via email, do that) Is the topic not important, but urgent? = make a decision on it, or call someone directly and discuss for <5 minutes, decide and move on Is the topic not urgent and not important? = don't even bring it up, move on Are there any tools or tips you have for eliminating meetings from your calendar so you have more time to do focused work? #productivity #meetings #management

How many meetings on your calendar are seemingly unnecessary? Probably quite a few, and here’s why - A) Someone thought you should “check in” even though there’s nothing to discuss. B) Some exec doesn’t know the answer to a question and pulls X number of people into a room, where little is accomplished. Managers surveyed by Harvard Business Review said they believed 83% of meetings on their calendar were pointless. It happens internally a lot, but even externally when you feel the need to touch base with a client. Here’s my way around it - 1 - Every year, I do the thing where you delete all your recurring meetings and start over - add only what comes up and feels necessary. It works. 2 - Only include people in meetings that need to be there - and be intentional about it. If it means literally asking someone, “Do you know anything about X, Y, and Z?...” do it. 3 - If you’re just trying to get face time - which is important! - make sure you go into it with a goal in mind. Even your 1:1s. Pick a project to focus on, use it for feedback, discuss a challenge or problem you can collectively solve. Above all else - have an objective in mind and the right people to accomplish it.

Turn meetings from time drains into power plays. From meandering classical piece into high energy rock anthem. We've all been there. Walk into a meeting, eager to contribute. But, unsure of what the discussion will be about. The clock ticks, the conversation meanders, productivity stalls. An hour or more passes and the meeting ends. Leaving everyone with wasted time; unaccomplished goals. Pro-tip on what's overlooked, the cost! There is a cost to everything we do. I have been in meetings that cost an average of: - $200/hour per person - filled with up to 25 people - that equaled $5000 per hour All of which were plagued by meandering conversations This meeting norm is destroying our businesses: • No purpose, no focus • Absence of structure causes inefficiency • No way to measure the meeting's effectiveness • Understanding what all of this costs us So what can be done? Try this one simple thing to turn this around. No agenda, No attendance! Just say no! How can you add value when you don't know why you are there? You cant! You will have to calibrate to understand! This is unproductive and costs time Will result in another meeting Makes the team look bad And unprepared Time is precious. Meetings should be powerhouses of productivity, not pits of wasted potential. Let's flip the script. • Establish clear agenda before all meetings. • Include expectations and overall objectives. • Assign roles, manage time, and prioritize tasks. • Have system for rating effectiveness of meetings.   - Did we have agendas with clear objectives?   - Did every action have an owner;   - a due date and clear scope of work?   - Is the team staying on topic?   - Are we starting and ending on time or sooner? • Rate each meeting.   - Was it a 10/10 gathering or a 2/10 disaster? • Utilize feedback loop for future meetings.    𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. We can't get out of them (at least not all). Turn them into opportunities for growth and success. Have a meeting horror story? I know you do. Share below.

Prioritization is the big issue now. And the most popular executive session that I conduct is on this topic. Many teams I spend time with feel they have already cut projects and tasks and have nowhere else to look for re-claimed time. But the key is looking within the projects, in the sub-sets, sections, and puzzle pieces - and cutting some of those to get bandwidth back. What do I mean? Well, how about... Minimizing multiple layers of approvals Phasing out outdated procedures Curtailing excessive quality checks Narrowing down project scopes Halting low-impact initiatives Discontinuing redundant data collection Addressing overlapping roles and responsibilities Ceasing over-engineering product features Cutting sections of larger projects Simplifying visuals and decks Continue to streamline documentation processes Further reducing the number and cadence of meetings Cutting back on unnecessary customizations Merging similar project efforts Integrating related presentations Automating routine reports Refining team roles Simplifying approval channels Reducing meeting frequencies Eliminating non-essential project elements Streamlining written communications Prioritizing impactful project features Designating single project leads Delegating administrative tasks Abandoning underutilized platforms or tools Stopping the overproduction of marketing materials Ending the practice of excessive documentation That should get you started!! #simplification #prioritymanagement #prioritization

Are you tired of your workday being eaten up by back-to-back meetings? You're not alone. Many of us feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings that seem to take over our schedules. But don't worry, I've got some easy strategies to help you and your team work better, with fewer interruptions. Chat More, Meet Less Firstly, let's lean into online chatting. Tools like Slack can be a game-changer. They let you share ideas and updates without needing to gather everyone for a meeting. It's a great way to keep the conversation going, without pausing your workday. The Magic of Quick Check-ins Next up, embrace the quick daily stand-up. A brief catch-up with your team each day can replace many longer meetings. It keeps everyone in the loop and can often be done in just a few minutes. Visual Brainstorming Then there's the power of visual tools. Digital boards like Miro are fantastic for brainstorming and planning. They make sharing ideas fun and interactive, cutting down the need for long discussions. Stay Focused Finally, make sure every meeting has a clear purpose. Before you call a meeting, ask yourself what you need to achieve. Keeping meetings focused and to the point can save a lot of time. So there you have it: chat instead of meet, quick daily updates, use visual tools, and keep meetings focused. By trying these simple tips, you can reduce meeting overload and make your workday more productive and enjoyable.

Atlassian surveyed 5,000 knowledge workers across four continents and identified the number one barrier to productivity 📉 Unsurprisingly, meetings are the barrier to getting work done. Their research revealed: ✏ 78% of respondents attend so many meetings that they can't get their work done ✏ 76% of people feel drained on days when they have a lot of meetings ✏ A whopping 80% would be more productive if they spent less time meetings Read more from Atlassian's Workplace Woes: Meetings Edition (linked in the comments!) Does this sound familiar? I know the feeling. The problem, though, is that we often hear we should cut back on meetings without clear steps for doing so while boosting productivity. We can't simply cancel a handful of meetings or bring a loose agenda template to our meetings and expect output to increase. Too many meetings often result from inefficient working processes that spark the need to meet. Instead, focus on your processes and ways of working together first: 💡 Too many meetings about projects and work that aren't top priority? You're missing alignment around strategic goals and focus areas. Your team members need to be able to say to one another, "I'd love to chat about this down the road, but right now, our priorities are XYZ, so I need to reserve my time for those projects." Atlassian uses its work management product, Atlas, to create organizational alignment around its OKRs (read more in the comments). 💡 Too many meetings to discuss responsibilities, evolving deliverables, and clarity around the next steps for a body of work? You weren't clear on the work's goals from the get-go. Does your team have a project brief, project managers to rely on, or another form of alignment documentation they can use to create a plan at the beginning of a project? You can use a tool like Asana for this (and they have templates). 💡 Too many meetings centered around sharing status updates and "news that could've been an email?" You need to set meeting ground rules, guidelines, and specific definitions around how your teams should use their communication channels. I've linked some ideas from Mural and Todoist below! 💡 Too many meetings interrupting dedicated work time or outside of working hours, leaving your team members feeling frustrated and annoyed with each other? You need a tool like Clockwise to empower your teams to communicate their availability and schedule meeting times at the best time for everyone The problem is that we have too many meetings, but the solution lies in evolving our ways of working together. #knowledgework #workplacevolution #productivity #collaboration

Did you know? 📅Many professionals spend nearly two full workdays each week navigating meetings and emails. Break it down, and it's about 8.8 hours a week reading & writing emails and another 7.5 hours attending meetings. Here's how we can tackle this "digital overload": 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Reserve slots in your calendar for focused, uninterrupted work. Treat these as crucial appointments with yourself. Prioritize: List tasks for the week and day. (Get started on them early and tackle high-priority ones first.) 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Only invite individuals to meetings if they're essential to the agenda. Ask yourself, "Do they genuinely need to be there?". Similarly, avoid joining meetings unless there's substantial value in your participation. Choose productivity over politics. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Clearly state the objective of every meeting. Add detailed notes in the calendar invite, ensuring participants come armed with solutions, making the session more efficient and, hopefully, shorter. Always conclude with definite next steps, responsibilities, and deadlines. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: If you're prone to drifting off-topic or venting, opt for texting over calling. Remember, your colleagues' time is precious too. Avoid unnecessary complaints and gossip; they neither enhance productivity nor workplace culture. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 = 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱: A Harris poll reveals that poor communication costs workers around 7.47 hours a week. To put it in perspective: an individual earning $100,000 annually, in essence, squanders approximately $18K worth of time yearly due to this inefficiency. How do you optimize your email, meeting, and communication practices for workplace efficiency? Share your strategies! https://loom.ly/0RvmAqM #digitaloverload #efficiency #focusedwork #executivecommunication

🕒 Tired of too many meetings? Let's make our work hours count! 🚀 We've all been there – a day packed with back-to-back meetings, leaving little time for actual work. 🙅♂️ It's time to rethink our approach and reclaim our productivity. Here are a few strategies to tackle the "too many meetings" syndrome: 1️⃣ Meeting Purpose: Before scheduling or accepting a meeting, ask yourself: "Is this necessary?" Ensure each meeting has a clear agenda and purpose. 2️⃣ Time Blocks: Dedicate specific time blocks for meetings and others for focused work. Guard your "deep work" hours like gold. 3️⃣ Agenda & Goals: Share the meeting agenda and objectives in advance. This allows attendees to prepare, making meetings more efficient. 4️⃣ Limit Attendees: Invite only those who truly need to be in the meeting. Smaller groups often lead to more productive discussions. 5️⃣ Stand-Up Meetings: Some discussions can be handled in quick stand-up meetings. Keep them short and to the point. 6️⃣ Meeting-Free Days: Designate certain days as "meeting-free" to allow everyone uninterrupted work time. 7️⃣ Tech Tools: Utilize productivity tools like project management software and collaboration platforms to streamline communication. 8️⃣ Feedback Loop: Encourage open feedback on the meeting culture within your organization. Are there ways to improve? Let's remember that the goal is not to eliminate meetings entirely but to make them purposeful and efficient. ⏰ How do you strike a balance between collaboration and focused work? 🤔💼 #Productivity #MeetingManagement #WorkSmart #Leadership Together, we can create a more productive and fulfilling work environment! 💪💼🌟