Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

Slaying the Meeting Monster: A Conversation with Mun-Wai Chung

Feb 19, 2025

In this conversation, Mun-Wai Chung, author of 'Slay the Meeting Monster', shares her mission to improve corporate meeting effectiveness. She discusses how ineffective meetings mirror company culture and have worsened with remote work. Mun-Wai emphasizes the need for intentionality, scripts to guide discussions, and collaboration over traditional formats. The chat also highlights how evaluating the necessity of meetings can significantly enhance productivity and respect participants' time, urging leaders to adopt new approaches for a more engaging meeting culture.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Revamping Meeting Culture

01:39 • 10min

The Dilemma of C-Level Micromanagement

11:27 • 2min

Rethinking Meetings and Remote Collaboration

13:22 • 23min

Evaluating Meeting Necessity and the Role of Scripts

36:12 • 2min

Exploring Collaborative Meeting Dynamics

37:58 • 2min

Redefining Postmortem Meetings in Project Management

40:27 • 3min

Transforming Meetings through Structured Dialogue

43:00 • 6min

In this conversation, Dave Prior and Mun-Wai Chung discuss the pervasive issue of ineffective meetings in the corporate world, exploring the cultural implications of meeting practices, the impact of remote work, and strategies for improving collaboration. Mun-Wai shares insights from her book, 'Slay the Meeting Monster', emphasizing the need for intentionality in meetings and the importance of scripts to guide discussions. The conversation highlights the necessity of reevaluating meeting structures to foster a more productive work environment. Takeaways • Meetings often reflect a company's culture and collaboration style. • The pandemic has exacerbated the problem of ineffective meetings. • Scripts can help facilitate more productive meetings. • Collaboration should be prioritized over traditional meeting formats. • Leaders play a crucial role in shaping meeting culture. • Information overload can hinder productivity in remote work settings. • Meetings should have clear purposes and outcomes. • It's essential to respect participants' time by evaluating meeting necessity. • Creating a collaborative culture requires intentional practices. • The way we work and communicate is evolving, necessitating new approaches to meetings. Chapters 01:33 Introduction to Meeting Culture 04:28 The Meeting Monster: A Personal Journey 07:30 The Inefficiency of Meetings 10:39 Types of Meetings and Their Purpose 13:25 The Role of Technology in Meetings 16:19 The Impact of Remote Work on Collaboration 19:33 Overcoming Information Overload 22:36 Conclusion and Key Takeaways 28:02 Navigating Communication Overload 31:02 Establishing Boundaries for Effective Collaboration 35:20 The Importance of Experimentation in Team Dynamics 37:32 The Role of Scripts in Meetings 46:36 Meetings as a Reflection of Company Culture Check out Mun-Wai's Book Slay the Meeting Monster: https://tinyurl.com/yc82k2pj If you'd like to contact Mun-Wai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/munwaic/ The Agile Network February 2025 Microconference - Disruption: How AI and Agile are Reinventing the PMO - February 24, 2024 https://theagilenetwork.com