One of the joys of working of being a founder is the ability to decide whether or not to have that meeting.
Being a founder of a startup can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of one’s career. One of the greatest joys of being a founder is the ability to make decisions about how to run the company, including when and whether to have meetings. That’s probably something that I take a bit for granted after five years of running this business, but every now and then I get sight of the obligatory meetings that others have to attend and they make no sense to me. If this meeting should have been an email, be brave and tell everyone. Or start it up in chat or Slack and see if it gains you back half an hour of your life.
How often should meet?
As a founder, you have the freedom to decide when and if you want to have meetings. You can choose to have a meeting every day or only once a week. You can also choose to have meetings with specific individuals or with the entire team. This flexibility allows you to tailor your meetings to the needs of your company and your team, rather than being constrained by a set schedule or format.
I default to 25 or 55-minute meeting bookings to allow for a quick comfort break or email check between Zoom/Teams calls. But even then, some of them should just be spontaneous, five-minute wonders. Those closest to me (you know who you are) get those kinds of calls/meetings.
What chop and change timings?
First, deciding whether to have a meeting or not allows you to be more efficient with your time. When you’re running a startup, time is definitely one of your most valuable resources. By being able to decide when to have meetings, you can ensure that you’re using your time in the most productive way possible. For example, if you’re working on a project that requires a lot of focused attention, you can choose not to have a meeting that day so that you can work on it without interruption. It’s hard to diarise for this, but it’s absolutely necessary. Same with business development: diarise a meeting with yourself to check in on your progress.
What are the benefits for your team of better decisions around whether or not to have a meeting?
Another benefit of being able to decide whether to have a meeting or not is that it allows you to be more effective in communicating with your team. When you’re running a startup, communication is key. By being able to decide when and if you want to have meetings, you can ensure that you’re communicating with your team in the most effective way possible. For example, if you’re trying to convey a new idea or strategy to your team, you may want to have a meeting so that you can explain it in more detail. On the other hand, if you’re trying to gather feedback on a project, you may want to hold a meeting to hear everyone’s thoughts and ideas. Or maybe poll them? Or do both?
What meetings do we run at TBD Marketing?
Apart from the many face-to-face meetings and Zoom and Team calls we do each month, we have a weekly team meeting for the TBD team and, as a group of high performers who often work from home / separate locations, it’s been really interesting to watch the team emerge as we hang out together each week. It’s one part brainstorm, one part cathartic, one partly work allocation. It works.
Every team is different and has different needs. By being able to decide when and if you want to have meetings, you can ensure that you’re meeting the needs of your team. For example, if you have a team member who is working on a particularly challenging project, you probably want to have a meeting with them more often to provide support and guidance. I’ve found that small visual ticks, participation levels and more tell me when I need to spend more time with a valued team member.
Meetings are all boring though, right?
Finally, being able to decide whether to have a meeting or not allows you to be more creative.
No, really!
When you’re running a startup, creativity and momentum are key. By being able to decide when and if you want to have meetings, you can ensure that you’re using your time in the most creative way possible. For example, if you’re working on a new product or service, you may want to have a meeting to brainstorm new ideas and possibilities or to allow for members to express project-threatening challenges in a group setting.
What does it mean about how I decide to run the business?
In conclusion, being a founder of a startup comes with many joys and rewards. One of the greatest joys is the ability to make decisions about how to run the company, including when and whether to have meetings. This flexibility allows founders to tailor their meetings to the needs of their company and team, be more efficient with their time, be more effective in communicating with their team, adaptable to the needs of their team and be more creative. This freedom allows founders to make the most of their time and resources, which is crucial for the success of a startup.
Make yours fun, on brand, the kind of meeting people *want* to come to, and they’ll bring their best ideas and input every time.
Fancy a meeting?
