5 non-business reasons we hold meetings

People will tell you the main reason – sometimes the only reason – to hold a meeting is to share information or ideas. But these regular events are much more complex than that, providing more to the office than simply getting work done.

Here are 5 reasons we hold meetings that you probably hadn’t thought about…

1. Socialising
Without meetings people may well just sit all day at their desks, hands hovering over keyboards, eyes fixed firmly on their screen. Sometimes it seems as though workers might as well be on their own, instead of being surrounded by colleagues.

Meetings bring staff together and, in the bits before and after, allow them to socialise. This helps create bonds in the office.

2. Break from monotony
‘A change is as good as a break’, goes the old saying. And this is also true in the workplace.

Spending hours on end working on one project can end up becoming boring and monotonous. Throwing a meeting into the mix every now and then allows people to change up their working day and focus on something else.

3. Exercise
Depending on where your meeting room is, the exercise level might only be a short 30-second walk from desk to table. But it’s enough to get the blood flowing and the muscles stretched.

Recent studies suggest a break from sitting every hour can help mitigate many of the negative effects associated with long, sedentary periods.

4. Morale
All of the above have the effect of keeping your staff happier and morale high. Studies show that a happy employee is more motivated and productive.

By holding meetings that give people the chance to socialise, you help break up the day and get everyone moving, as well as boosting morale and creating better workers.

5. Common enemy
On the other side of the coin to boosting morale is that, even if your staff hate holding regular meetings, by doing so you help create a common enemy. This, in turn, unites employees against the big, bad boss who keeps interrupting their day.

Posted by Sara Cano