Meetings suck. They get in the way of getting work done. Some people think we shouldn’t have meetings at all. Others think that the corporate offices are structured for interruptions to occur.

However, there are times, that you think your need to hold a meeting. But, on the other hand, your questions could also be answered through a few back and forth emails (which isn’t efficient or respectful of people’s time). Essentially, you’re stuck in a dilemma, because it’s the middle ground. This is the type of situation a stand-up meeting is perfect for.

The stand-up meeting is simple:

• Send a meeting invite to 1 to 2 people (no more than 3 total people, otherwise you lose people’s attention).
• The meeting invite should have “stand-up meeting at X” in the location field for the invite.
• Stand-up meetings can be anywhere, except a conference room. Never a conference room. They can be at someone’s desk, in the hallway, or even just a walking together with someone.
• The meeting can only last for 15 minutes (or less).

Try it out yourself. Take stand-up meetings for a test drive. Today, when you think about, “I really need to make sure I briefly talk to this person about X”, send them a stand-up invite. It’s a great communication technique for quick, snippet, conversations. People can make the mistake of hiding behind email, it’s easier that way. But it doesn’t make it right. Don’t forget the value of face-to-face conversation. Stand-up meetings are cheap and short. They’re good for mini-brainstorm sessions, clarification or status updates.

Do you do this? What do you think? Any other meeting tips you have to share? I hope this helps you.
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