Many articles and reports on the subject have highlighted France’s bad habits when it comes to business meetings. While managers meet on average 3.5 days a week, meetings are even more frequent in large companies, to the point that people talk of “meetingitis”.
Even though discussion is essential for good collaboration within teams, French companies are particularly fond of meetings. There is certainly no shortage of occasions:
- Daily stand-ups (Agile / Scrum)
- Department meetings
- Brainstorming sessions
- Project reviews
- Training sessions
- Sales meetings
- Management or executive committee meetings
- Conferences
- Seminars
- Briefings
- One-to-ones
We have looked at the latest key figures to help you better understand the trends on this subject.
1. 27 days a year in meetings
French people still spend a great deal of time in meetings. According to a survey by IFOP (the French Institute of Public Opinion), professionals are attending these meetings more and more, devoting an average of 27 days a year to them (1), based on a 35-hour week. Unfortunately, not all meetings are productive.
2. A meeting lasts 57 minutes on average
Worldwide, a meeting lasts 48 minutes on average. In France, however, this rises to 57 minutes, according to a study by Barco (2). This practice can sometimes affect employee engagement and productivity.
3. 60% of professionals think meetings should be shorter
On a day-to-day basis, many meetings can feel like a waste of time. According to the Barco study, 60% of employees think meetings should be shorter (3). To avoid this perception and support performance, don’t hesitate to reduce the length of your meetings.
4. 22 minutes is enough for an effective meeting
According to a survey by Circle Research and Barco, meetings last too long and sometimes become unproductive. According to this study, meetings should be limited to 22 minutes (4). Note that it is vital to set out the purpose of the meeting by sending an agenda to participants.
Tip: assigning roles to everyone (chair, timekeeper, note-taker, etc.) can be a good idea to make your meetings even more effective.
Finally, if you would like detailed reports on the use of your meeting rooms in order to adjust your practices, our Hamilton Meeting solution can support you through your change management process.
Sources
- (1) IFOP – In 2018, managers will spend more time in meetings than on holiday
- (2) Barco – Five lessons on meeting culture
- (3) Barco – Five lessons on meeting culture
- (4) Barco – Seven tips for more productive meetings