Summary
In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses the common workplace issue of excessive meetings and how to navigate them effectively. She consolidates listener questions about declining unnecessary meetings while maintaining professionalism. She discusses the importance of designing meetings with attendees' needs in mind so as to reduce the question (and stress) about attendance. She also reviews the cultural dynamics that influence meeting attendance. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in meeting purpose and objectives as well as the potential for organizational improvement through better meeting management. Christa provides multiple additional resources for listeners to enhance their understanding of effective meeting practices and change management.

Key Takeaways
• Meetings often consume a significant portion of our work lives.
• Design meetings with the needs of attendees in mind.
• Many meetings lack clear purpose and objectives.
• Effective meeting management can enhance overall productivity.
• Cultural norms influence how meetings are perceived and attended.
• Incremental changes can lead to significant improvements in meeting culture.
• Resources are available to help improve meeting effectiveness.
• Good meeting management is a key competitive advantage.
• Companies with effective meeting management culture tend to be more effective overall.

Additional Resources
* Creating a position for meeting changes:
Deeb, G. (2022, November 8). Too many meetings suffocate morale & productivity. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgedeeb/2022/08/03/too-many-meetings-suffocate-morale--productivity/

LeBlanc, L. A., & Nosik, M. R. (2019). Planning and leading effective meetings. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(3), 696–708. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00330-z

* Articles to help you politely decline:
Lee, J. (2025, June 25). How to decline a meeting: Examples for saying no politely. Work Life by Atlassian. https://www.atlassian.com/blog/loom/how-to-decline-a-meeting

Towns, A. (2023, December 5). How to politely decline a meeting invite. Clockwise Inc. https://www.getclockwise.com/blog/how-to-decline-a-meeting-politely

Plachy, L. (2022, September 12). How to say no to meetings without feeling guilty • Slack Design. Slack Design. https://slack.design/articles/say-no-to-meetings-guilt-free/

* YouTube videos of William Ury re: Conflict Management and Negotiation:
Rotman School of Management. (2024, June 19). William Ury on Conflict Resolution 2.0: The Mindset of the Possibilist [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uZ3rueEZjE

TED. (2010, December 1). The walk from “no” to “yes” | William Ury [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc6yi_FtoNo

Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Listener Question
03:16 The Painful Truth About Painful Meetings
07:36 First, Read the Room…
12:36 Second, Talk to Your Manager …
14:30 Additional Resources
17:40 Wrap Up & Submitting Your Questions
18:13 Contact and Booking Information

Keywords
meeting management, meetings, workplace culture, workplace productivity, declining meetings, effective communication, organizational culture, meeting strategies, business challenges, workplace issues, professional development, team collaboration, organizational change
---------------------
Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real Impact

© 2025 Christa Dhimo in partnership with Impono LLC and 21st Century Strategies. Ask Christa! has a pending Trademark. All Rights Reserved.

I record and produce my podcasts using Riverside and their music library for subscribers.

Links:
Ask Christa!: https://www.askchrista.com/
The “More Answers…” newsletter https://www.askchrista.com/newsletter/
Contact & Booking: https://christadhimo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christadhimo/

Disclaimer
The Ask Christa! show is designed to provide accurate, reliable, and practical insights into common business challenges and workplace issues. Dr. Christa Dhimo stands by the information she shares and the resources she provides; however, every situation is unique. Listeners are encouraged to use this podcast as a helpful resource while seeking additional professional advice when needed.

As such, the content of this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for guidance from qualified professionals who can consider your specific circumstances. Ask Christa! and its host disclaim liability for actions taken solely on the basis of the information provided here, especially if taken out of context.