Did you know that the average person spends about a third of their lives at work? Unfortunately, this figure is not going to go down any time soon because of the increased costs of living and tough economic times. Since we all have to earn a living, there’s no shortcut to working; we must all work, period. However, it is this work that sometimes leads to stress, anxiety and depression. It’s no wonder why a significant percentage of the working population is on antidepressants and other stress-related medication.
Therefore, as we work, it is upon ourselves to find therapeutic avenues that make work more tolerable even when we are under pressure. For instance, during quick breaks, it’s a good idea to engage in games such as the Buffalo gold slot online, to help us wind down and release the pressure.
Therapeutic Effect of Meetings
While playing casual games is a good avenue for relieving stress, several studies have proven that meetings at work are more about therapy than productivity. These gatherings, for instance, typically allow employees to complain and flaunt to fellow workers. As a result, the attendants often feel a certain level of relief.
Moreover, lengthy work meetings can act as a form of therapy where teammates at a similar rank of a company can get together and figure out their issues. The time-consuming work meetings are an excellent way to inspire people, allowing them to complain and be recognized by fellow workers.
Thus, even though numerous meetings are wrapped up without conclusions being made on some of the main agendas, research shows that the actual reason for meetings is for connection and identity. They allow workers to complain and be listened to by colleagues, which is a form of therapy.
Are All Meetings Productive?
For the most part, research indicates that employees consider that a third of the time taken during meetings to be wasteful. 60% of office workers in the US, on the other hand, tend to perceive meetings as a distraction. In the same way, managers say gatherings consume the time that could be used to concentrate on a complicated undertaking.
In spite of the negative view, the number of meetings in organizations is always on the rise, in conjunction with the increase in the number of managerial and strategic roles. As a result, some people even end up spending more than half of their working lives in meetings.
Best Practices from the Field of Meeting
It’s high time that we take meetings for the therapeutic effect they have. Some of the main reasons why colleagues have meeting include:
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Sharing Information
Weekly meetings where teammates report on their progress during the week can be an efficient way of keeping the group updated. It can also be a bonding exercise. On the other hand, meetings, where senior managers take their absent-minded workers through a list of announcements, are time wasters. There are more efficient ways of distributing this information, for instance, through newsletters or emails.
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Solving Problems
When well-informed individuals come together to brainstorm about an idea for a particular problem that needs a solution, meetings can be efficient. On the contrary, this effectiveness can be messed up the moment non-members are forced to attend.
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Create and put into effect organization strategy
While senior managers spend up to 80% of their time at work in administrative meetings, the regular employee spends approximately 6 work hours every week in meetings. Though this is how running a company works, it can also make managers think that meetings are always useful, for instance, when they want to talk to their minors.
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Debriefing a team after a performance episode
After a given project has been accomplished, it’s good for teammates to assemble and chat about what went well and what needs improvement. When every member has a chance to express his or her view, it improves the general sense of group union, rejuvenating the team for an upcoming project.
As a consequence, prearranged gatherings having a well-defined purpose can be successful. Ritualized meetings, however, usually are perceived as time-wasters. Ultimately the behaviour of a given group is determined by its leader. Organizational and departmental heads should be the ones to set the tone of the meeting and making sure that there is a positive and fruitful aftermath. If the manger follows best practices, then the attendees too are likely to take part constructively during the meeting. Some of the best practices for productive and therapeutic nature of meetings comprise:
- The organizer establishing a comprehensive agenda and allocating it well before the meeting starts. This will create vivid anticipations for the conversation, plus it allows those attending to prepare.
- Minimizing the number of meetings to holding them only for properly-planned sessions that achieve the stated objectives can motivate the group. On the contrary, too many time-consuming gatherings fuel employee stress and fatigue, decreasing morale.
- Maintaining an atmosphere where all members are free to voice their sentiments without complaining.
Eventually, meetings that are appropriately carried out can bring forth great benefits to the company. The outcome is a sense of group identity and team spirit pointed towards better production. And that is what work therapy is all about. On the other hand, meetings that are poorly performed will destroy the morale of the group, making workers perform below the required standards.
