Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life Mamie Kanfer Stewart on Meeting Smarter: How to Stop Wasting Time at Work (Shortcast)
Jun 26, 2025
Mamie Kanfer Stewart, co-author of *Momentum* and an expert in optimizing meetings, shares her insights on transforming workplace gatherings into productive powerhouses. She emphasizes starting with the desired outcome instead of just the purpose of the meeting. Mamie discusses when alternatives to meetings are more effective, like using email or asynchronous comments. She also addresses the pitfalls of over-inviting attendees and encourages reshaping meetings as collaborative work rather than interruptions, making time spent together meaningful.
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Meetings Drain Productivity If Unoptimized
- Meetings are the biggest productivity loss in companies today if not optimized properly.
- Many times a meeting is not needed if the desired outcome can be achieved via email or one-on-one discussions.
Start With Desired Outcome
- Start planning meetings by defining the desired outcome instead of the purpose.
- Decide if a meeting is necessary or if alternatives like emails or documents are better.
Meetings Are Real Work
- Meetings are a form of real work when collaborating with others, not interruptions.
- Proper attention and tools are needed to optimize meetings as effectively as individual tasks.