Startup insights: Ways to end the cycle of post-meeting fatigue.

      Startup wisdom is a new series by TNW providing practical insights from experts who have helped establish successful companies. This week, Vivian Acquah, a certified inclusion strategist, workshop facilitator, and founder of Amplify DEI, offers her advice on overcoming meeting hangovers.

      As a leader, your role involves guiding a team while maintaining a clear vision and achieving essential goals. Your aim is to plan effectively and empower your team to perform at their best. However, leadership goes beyond just meeting goals; it requires navigating the complex interpersonal dynamics that arise when working with others. The fast-paced and ever-changing nature of today’s work environment makes this even more challenging.

      How can you share responsibility without relinquishing control? What practical strategies can you implement to encourage accountability while steering clear of micromanagement? How can you assist your team during times of organizational change? These questions often trouble leaders. Yet, one challenge that frequently gets overlooked, a hidden productivity killer, is meeting hangovers.

      Yes, meeting hangovers. Let's delve into this topic.

      What is a meeting hangover?

      We’ve all experienced it. You exit a meeting, and rather than feeling rejuvenated or clear-headed, you feel... off. Perhaps the meeting went on for too long, was poorly managed, or left unresolved tensions in the air. Whatever the cause, you leave feeling drained, your focus diminished, and your motivation lost. Instead of getting back to work, you find yourself continuously replaying parts of the meeting in your mind.

      That is what a meeting hangover is.

      Research from the University of North Carolina and the work management platform Asana indicates that meeting hangovers are more prevalent (and more detrimental) than one might assume. In a survey of 5,000 knowledge workers in the US and UK, more than 90% admitted to feeling meeting hangovers at least occasionally. Over half reported that these hangovers negatively affected their productivity, and 47% stated they felt less engaged with their work afterward.

      But that’s not all. The survey showed that meeting hangovers also influenced how colleagues interacted with one another, leading to negative impacts on relationships. Team members felt disconnected, disengaged, and, honestly, desired solitude. This presents a significant problem for a team striving to meet its goals.

      Why meeting hangovers matter more than you realize

      Despite their name, meeting hangovers do not simply dissipate as your team transitions to its next task. The adverse effects from these meetings linger, affecting both individual performance and team dynamics. These repercussions generally fall into three categories:

      1. Loss of momentum

      Meetings that lack a clear purpose disrupt productivity. When decisions are postponed or misinterpreted, team members often spend more time clarifying issues than executing tasks.

      2. Decreased engagement

      Frequent meetings without effective facilitation can lead to disengagement among team members. When individuals feel their time is undervalued and their contributions overlooked, frustration mounts, which subsequently lowers workplace morale.

      3. Ripple effect on creativity and collaboration

      Ongoing meeting-related stress diminishes cognitive functions like creativity, reducing the team’s innovative and solution-focused abilities. Ineffectively managed meetings undermine psychological safety— a crucial element for successful team collaboration.

      By acknowledging the severity of this challenge, startup founders and leaders can take purposeful actions to mitigate its effects and prioritize productive, energizing, and inclusive meeting practices.

      From hangovers to high performance: harnessing inclusion strategies

      An often-overlooked yet highly effective method to tackle meeting hangovers is through inclusive leadership. By fostering an environment where all voices are appreciated and accountability is communal, you create the psychological safety necessary for impactful collaboration. The following three strategies can help teams reduce meeting hangovers and elevate their performance:

      1. Set clear agendas for efficient communication

      Unstructured meetings breed confusion and waste participants' time. Outlining clear expectations from the outset helps attendees stay focused and facilitates efficient use of meeting time.

      Actionable steps:

      Identify the purpose of each meeting, outlining its objectives and distinguishing between decision-making and brainstorming activities.

      Prioritize agenda items based on urgency and strategic value.

      Allocate time limits for discussion points, and appoint a timekeeper to maintain the schedule.

      Distribute the agenda to all attendees at least 24 hours before the meeting, ensuring they come prepared.

      Impact:

      Well-structured agendas minimize confusion and keep discussions on track, allowing participants to direct their energy toward productive outcomes.

      2. Unwind to rewind: the key to resetting after meetings

      The mental toll of meetings can linger, especially after intense discussions. Allowing team members brief mental breaks post-meeting can enhance focus and clarity.

      Actionable steps:

      Incorporate 10-20 minute gaps between meetings to avoid back-to-back scheduling.

      Recommend activities such as light stretching or stepping away from screens to mentally reset.

      Send follow-up emails summarizing key takeaways, decisions, and next steps for attendees to process remaining concerns.

      Impact:

      The