Finding Mindfulness in Meetings
Meetings have a reputation problem.
Most are too long. Too vague. Too full of words that don’t actually mean anything.
A place where good ideas go to die—drowned in updates, side conversations, and the endless cycle of “let’s circle back.”
And yet, meetings aren’t the enemy. Unintentional meetings are.
A great meeting moves things forward. A bad one? It drains time, energy, and attention—the three things no one can afford to waste.
The Problem Isn’t Meetings. It’s Mindlessness.
We show up, but we’re not really there.
- We multitask. Checking emails while half-listening.
- We speak, but don’t always say what needs to be said.
- We listen, but only halfway—thinking about what we’ll say next instead of actually hearing the other person.
And at the end? The meeting ends, but nothing changes. No real progress. No real clarity. Just another block of time spent… on what, exactly?
Bringing Mindfulness Into the Room
What if, instead, meetings became a place where things actually got done?
Try this:
- Start with purpose. Why are we here? What decision needs to be made? If there’s no clear reason, cancel the meeting.
- No passengers. Everyone in the room should have a role. If someone isn’t needed, they shouldn’t be there.
- Silence distractions. No emails, no side tasks. If it’s important enough to meet, it’s important enough to focus.
- Listen to understand, not just to respond. Real conversations happen when people feel heard—not when they’re just waiting for their turn to talk.
- End with action. What’s next? Who’s responsible? If nothing changes after the meeting, the meeting was pointless.
Better Conversations, Better Decisions, Better Work
Some people treat meetings like a necessary evil—something to endure, something that eats into "real" work.
Others turn meetings into a tool—a place for focus, for movement, for meaningful discussion.
And the ones who do?
They don’t just sit in meetings.
They lead them.
Because meetings aren’t about filling time.
They’re about making things happen.
