Better 8 more meetings. Better safe than sorry.
“Let’s take another vote on this.”
“We should take all stakeholders with us.”
“We still need a jour fixe for this.”
“And a follow-up meeting afterwards.”
Sound familiar? Then you are not alone. Many companies discuss, coordinate, analyze and document. Presentations are created, appointments are coordinated and working groups are set up. Everyone is busy, everyone is working and yet often surprisingly little happens.
Three weeks later, the result often looks like this:
- 47 Calendar invitations
- 126 PowerPoint slides
- 18 Protocols
- 0 Decisions
When meetings replace decisions
Meetings are important. They create transparency, promote exchange and help to bring different perspectives together. But this is precisely where the danger lies: many companies no longer use meetings as a tool for decision-making, but as a substitute for decisions; instead of taking responsibility, discussions continue.
Instead of creating clarity, further coordination loops are planned, instead of defining a path, even more opinions are sought. The result: projects are delayed, employees lose motivation and important opportunities remain unused.
Many managers are waiting for the perfect basis for decision-making, all data should be available, every eventuality should be taken into account, everyone involved should be heard. But in a dynamic business world, perfection is often the greatest enemy of progress. A mediocre decision made today usually takes a company further than eight perfect meetings with no result, because decisions create movement. Decisions enable learning. Decisions provide insights that cannot be gained in a meeting.
Why companies drive in circles
Especially in times of digitalization, a shortage of skilled workers, rising costs and growing competitive pressure, companies cannot afford to wait weeks for decisions. If you are constantly discussing, you will end up going round in circles; if you make decisions, you will make progress. It’s not about acting rashly, it’s about creating clear responsibilities, shortening decision-making paths and designing processes in such a way that progress is possible.
In our day-to-day work, we see time and again that the real challenge is not a lack of knowledge – most companies know exactly what needs to be done. The problem is often unclear responsibilities, a lack of processes and too many levels of coordination.
This is exactly where modern process optimization comes in.
Those who define responsibilities, establish decision-making powers and make sensible use of digital processes create the basis for faster decisions and better results. Digital tools, clear workflows and transparent communication structures help to reduce unnecessary meetings and win back valuable time.
Just do it instead of endlessly discussing it
Change happens when people take responsibility and make decisions, so our recommendation is very clear:
Fewer coordination loops.
Fewer endless meetings.
More clarity.
More responsibility.
More implementation.
As a partner for digitalization, process optimization, sales and corporate development, we help companies to break down entrenched structures and regain their ability to act. Together, we analyse existing workflows, identify organizational roadblocks and develop practical solutions for faster decisions and more efficient processes.
Because in the end, it’s not the next meeting that brings progress.
But the next decision.
Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:
Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
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