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Atlassian PhD: Why Meetings Don’t Work, and What to Do Instead (with Molly Sands, Atlassian)
Today is the last episode of our second season, in which I have the pleasure of speaking with Molly Sands, a PhD and the Head of Atlassian’s Team Anywhere Lab.
Molly is a behavioral scientist turned product and program leader whose work has been published in top tier academic journals, popular press including the New York Times, and a TED talk with over six million views.
Today, Molly shares what’s wrong with meetings, what we should do instead, and why you need a Chief Vibes Officer.
Here are a few takeaways to apply as a leader:
1. The Detrimental Impact of Meetings
While we often default to them, meetings are the top barrier to productivity and enjoyment, with 80% of people saying they’d be more productive with fewer meetings. Additionally, up to 67% of people work overtime due to these excessive meetings.
2. Alternatives to Traditional Meetings
Atlassian's research points to asynchronous communication tools, like Loom, and collaborative documents as powerful alternatives to traditional meetings. For instance, managers using Loom for updates, like Molly did, found that "teams felt more connected to the manager, more recognized for their work, and more clear on the top priorities for that week. So bye Zoom, and go Loom!
3. Atlassian's Formula for Optimal Work Week Structure
Atlassian recommends allocating no more than 30% of the workweek to scheduled meetings, advocating for a structured approach that includes blocks of focused work, collaboration, and reactivity. I loved Molly’s idea of keeping some blocks of time open for more casual coworking between smaller groups of colleagues. And, to look at our calendars not just for meetings but for everything on how we spend our time.
Future Work is a weekly newsletter and bi-weekly podcast to help people-centric leaders stay ahead in the future of work. Subscribe on FlexOS, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for the latest Future Work episodes.
Like reading more than listening? Find the article on our website: https://www.flexos.work/learn/meetings-dont-work-what-to-do-molly-sands-anywhere-lab-atlassian
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By FlexOSToday is the last episode of our second season, in which I have the pleasure of speaking with Molly Sands, a PhD and the Head of Atlassian’s Team Anywhere Lab.
Molly is a behavioral scientist turned product and program leader whose work has been published in top tier academic journals, popular press including the New York Times, and a TED talk with over six million views.
Today, Molly shares what’s wrong with meetings, what we should do instead, and why you need a Chief Vibes Officer.
Here are a few takeaways to apply as a leader:
1. The Detrimental Impact of Meetings
While we often default to them, meetings are the top barrier to productivity and enjoyment, with 80% of people saying they’d be more productive with fewer meetings. Additionally, up to 67% of people work overtime due to these excessive meetings.
2. Alternatives to Traditional Meetings
Atlassian's research points to asynchronous communication tools, like Loom, and collaborative documents as powerful alternatives to traditional meetings. For instance, managers using Loom for updates, like Molly did, found that "teams felt more connected to the manager, more recognized for their work, and more clear on the top priorities for that week. So bye Zoom, and go Loom!
3. Atlassian's Formula for Optimal Work Week Structure
Atlassian recommends allocating no more than 30% of the workweek to scheduled meetings, advocating for a structured approach that includes blocks of focused work, collaboration, and reactivity. I loved Molly’s idea of keeping some blocks of time open for more casual coworking between smaller groups of colleagues. And, to look at our calendars not just for meetings but for everything on how we spend our time.
Future Work is a weekly newsletter and bi-weekly podcast to help people-centric leaders stay ahead in the future of work. Subscribe on FlexOS, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for the latest Future Work episodes.
Like reading more than listening? Find the article on our website: https://www.flexos.work/learn/meetings-dont-work-what-to-do-molly-sands-anywhere-lab-atlassian