He noted that Barco’s own research indicates millennials and Gen Z will make up 59% of the workforce this year (a figure not too far off from the 50% figure I found in this source). This matters because they are natural collaborators who embrace digital technology. As I frequently mention in this blog, companies that want to attract and keep the best talent need to give them the tools to succeed.

During the webinar, Bertier touched on stats and findings that illustrate the connection between meetings and meeting-room technology, including:  

• 30% of organizations in 2020 will find their greatest competitive asset in their workforce’s ability to creatively use digital technologies.
• 72% of employees say their companies need to invest in better meeting technology (most say it needs to be intuitive and plug-and-play).
• Most millennials (78%) and everyone else (75%) want a fixed place for their meetings.

That last point should matter to anyone involved in business, because millennials are already the largest segment of the U.S. workforce. (As an aside, be skeptical about reports that claim millennials will make up 75% of the workforce in 2025. Recent research shows that’s an inflated number that keeps getting circulated without fact-checking.)

But of all the statistics that Bertier shared, the number that struck me and inspired this post is this one: 51% of employees attend meetings that they say are irrelevant to them. 

Let’s give this the context Bertier provided: The average meeting length in the U.S. is 48 minutes. So if you attend 10 meetings a week, that accounts for a full day of work each week. No one who cares about their career and responsibilities wants to be part of a day’s worth of being unproductive. Now consider that there are about 3 billion meetings in the U.S. every year and that the Fortune 500 wastes $75 million a year on meetings. As Bertier notes, it’s no wonder that nearly 60% of employees think meetings should be shorter.

Meetings Aren’t the Problem

The problem is poorly conceived meetings. Meetings should be where people formulate their strategy and tactics, brainstorm ideas, make decisions, work with one another, and make progress on their shared projects. Where time is at a premium, meetings can’t be interrupted by digressions, small talk, and technology that hinders rather than helps. With that in mind, here are Bertier’s list of seven tips for better meetings:

1. 1. Add the technology and rooms that will empower people to have better, more productive meetings.
      • So what does better technology look like? It’s simple and intuitive. That means it works at the touch of a button, is wireless, compatible with any device, and is easy to set up. 
   2. Reduce the number of meetings. Don’t mistake this for less collaboration. Empowered by meeting spaces with collaboration technology, you may find your employees getting together frequently in quick huddles to review plans of action, answer lingering questions, and map out strategies.
   3. Assign clear roles and responsibilities: A meeting that has a chairperson, note taker, facilitator, and timekeeper can keep it focused and productive.
   4. No interruptions or distractions. Most participants are offended by someone who uses a phone or computer during a meeting. This can be impractical to eliminate, since we rely on our personal devices to take notes and contribute to the discussion. It may be better to encourage attendees to use their devices only for purposes related to the task at hand.
   5. Use multimedia. 72% of survey respondents feel more engaged with multimedia presentations.
   6. Embrace huddle spaces. Huddle spaces with ready-to-use collaboration technology benefit those who want to work together in small groups and do so at a moment’s notice.
   7. Aim for the 17-minute meeting. In countries around the world, most employees want their meetings to be shorter. By setting a time limit on meetings, you encourage organizers and participants to focus on the agenda.

With these tips in mind, you have a good foundation from which to empower staff with the type of meetings that improve productivity, reduce stress, and create a collaborative environment that leads to better business outcomes. For help with putting these recommendations into action, work with a services provider who has deep experience in workplace collaboration. AVI-SPL has that experience, so reach out with your questions and requests.