How to avoid the “I hate meetings” culture killer

Scott Cochrane May 13, 2024

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When you say, "I hate meetings!" your team could be receiving a message that might be damaging your culture more than you ever realized.

In recent years a concerning trend has sprung up in leadership circles where it has become increasingly fashionable to announce, "I hate meetings!"

When you say 'I hate meetings' your team hears something different

Leaders, whether we're talking about Zoom meetings or in-person gatherings, we need to stop saying this. Because when we say, "I hate meetings," what our teammates hear is, "I don't want to spend time with these people."

Really.

Think about it. If you overhear your team leader look at their appointment calendar and say, "What? Another meeting with the team? Why do I have to always meet with these people?" you could easily translate that ranting into, "I just don't like spending time with them."

It's not about good meetings vs bad meetings

Now, many leaders will protest at this point and will say, "It's only bad meetings I don't like."

Fair point. And there are thousands of books and articles written about how to hold good meetings. This is not one of those articles.

Do they know how you really feel?

When your team believes you don't like having meetings, they believe you don't want to spend time with them. And it hurts your team's culture, and ultimately their performance.

Your team runs on the fuel of your personal approval and even affection for them. In fact, your team runs on the fuel of your love for them.

And one of the surest ways to pop that balloon is to make it known that you don't like spending time with them.

So, by all means, make sure your meetings are effective, well-run and purposeful. Whether on Zoom or in person, even if your meetings suck, don't let your team know you don't like to meet with them.

Let them know that the highlight of your day is to be able spend time with them.

And let's turn those "I hate meetings" chants into "I love my team" rants.

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Scott Cochrane serves on the executive team for the Willow Creek Association, as Vice President, International Ministries. He was born and raised in Canada, where he became connected to the Willow Creek Association, first as a marketing director and later as the ministry’s Chief Operating Officer. Following a five-year stint as Executive Pastor of a large church, Scott returned to Willow Creek Canada in 2009 as Executive Director, and in 2012 relocated to Illinois to take up his current post with the Willow Creek Association. Learn More »

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