At Shimbi Labs, we generally think meetings are useless. We're known for having very few meetings. Yet, meetings are helpful to convey information quickly. We also need to share information, so what do we do? 

We write.

I write in a long form, write my thoughts. Writing helps me clear my thoughts on any topic. So as others too are encouraged to write. We write a lot at Shimbi Labs.

Because long-form writing is an asynchronous means of communication, people can write and share ideas when they're ready, and others can read, consider, and respond to them when they have the time. There is no need to take people away from their work to gather around a table or display themselves on video conferencing software for meetings. 

We use MyProject to write everything from requirements to changes, discussions, bugs, and daily reports. Everyone in the company can see their projects and read related things.

MyProject compiles all of the team's efforts. It is an excellent way for teams to stay up to date on what's going on within the organization. It's a way to celebrate accomplishments, reward efforts, and highlight a great deal of work a team accomplishes in a relatively short period of time-all without the need for unneeded meetings.

Organizations constantly talk about productivity, yet mostly they waste time on endless meetings every day. Don't waste people's time unnecessarily.

According to a study by Steven Rogelberg, of the University of North Carolina, and colleagues -

We surveyed 182 senior managers in a range of industries: 65% said meetings keep them from completing their own work. 71% said meetings are unproductive and inefficient. 64% said meetings come at the expense of deep thinking. 62% said meetings miss opportunities to bring the team closer together.

Published in HBR

Do you really need a meeting?

Meetings are typically convened when an idea or concept is not sufficiently clear. Instead of holding a meeting, try to simplify the concept so that you can discuss it quickly, speak on Skype, or short phone conversation. The idea is to stay out of meetings as much as possible. Every minute you save by not attending a meeting is a minute you can spend on real work.

Nothing is more damaging to productivity than a meeting.

Here are a few reasons why:

• They fragment your workday and interrupt your normal workflow.
• Meetings are usually about ego and words rather than actual work.
• Meetings typically deliver a tiny amount of information not worth the time spent.
• Every meeting has at least one moron who wastes everyone's time with nonsense.
• Agendas are usually so vague that no one knows what they are about.
• Productive meetings require thorough preparation that people rarely do.

When you really must have a meeting, follow these easy guidelines:

• No clear agenda. No meeting.
• Invite fewer people.
• Set a 45-minute timer. When it rings, the meeting's over.

Make Sense?
Let me know your thoughts.