Why it’s time to get shot of coffee meetings at work
If people used the time they currently devote to reading books about productivity hacks to do some actual work, their productivity problem would be solved. But occasionally these books contain nuggets of wisdom. In “Time Wise”, Amantha Imber has a short chapter whose title alone gleams with good sense. It is called “Why you need to say ‘no’ to coffee meetings”. That is splendid advice for anyone who can identify with the following situation.
An email arrives from someone you do not know, asking to meet for coffee. Such requests arrive fairly often. It might be someone starting out on their career who wants guidance on how to progress in your field. It might be a freelancer hunting for work. In this instance the sender, who is called Cassie and got your name from a colleague whom you vaguely know, thinks there may be a way for your two companies to work together.
You don’t really want to meet Cassie. On the other hand, saying that you don’t want to meet someone, ever, feels a little rude. The meeting is weeks away, and the diary looks clear. You do drink coffee. She might be a useful contact if you want to move jobs. And you have heard of her company: it is just possible something useful might come of a discussion. You ignore instinct and say “yes”.
2023-02-16 10:33:50
Source from www.economist.com
In today’s corporate world, coffee meetings are a familiar part of the agenda. From quick huddles among team members to serious planning sessions with clients, these meetings offer the chance to discuss business over a hot cup of java. Yet for all the comforts and convenience that coffee meetings provide, there are also drawbacks to this method of collaboration. This is why more companies are beginning to look for alternative solutions.
The first issue that comes to mind with coffee meetings is the cost and time involved. Coordinating a meeting between multiple parties can take up significant resources, from brewing the coffee to covering the cost of the drinks. This often leads to hours of wasted time and productivity losses. Additionally, it can be difficult for two or more people to stay focused in a chatty atmosphere, making it hard to reach any meaningful outcomes.
Another pitfall associatedwith coffee meetings is the feeling of ‘abandoned energy’- referring to the lack of concentration or sense of engagement that comes when all members are not physically present in the same space. This can be addressed with video or conference calls, but then comes yet another challenge: finding a time when everyone is free and available.
In light of these limitations, it is time to move on from the coffee meeting and embrace the benefits of remote collaborations. Modern technology has provided us with many available tools, such as video conferences and document sharing platforms, which are already transforming the workplace. Remote collaborations allow teams to interact from any corner of the world, and at any time that suits them. By easily removing geographical and scheduling constraints, these tools can make a tremendous difference in team productivity and communication.
We stay connected more than ever before, so it’s essential that we use the best technology and options available to us. As companies strive for new levels of efficiency and success, the coffee meeting may be an old-fashioned relic of the past – the kind of approach that is fast becoming obsolete.