Why Long Meetings Are a Symptom of Poor Leadership
Recently, a friend proudly shared that the meetings he chairs can stretch for hours and include up to 100 participants. As he was not ready for the truth, I decide to remain silent and allow him his “moment in the sun”. The hard truth is that excessively long meetings that involve large number of people are symptoms of poor leadership and an ineffective organizational culture.
Lack of Clarity
When meetings drag, it means that the leader lacks a clear vision for the organization. Without a guiding direction, even basic discussions can become aimless. Team members are left uncertain about the long-term objectives, making it difficult to prioritize tasks or make meaningful decisions.
Failure to Delegate Decision Making
Prolonged discussions often stem from leaders who are unwilling to delegate decision-making. When authority is centralized in just one or two individuals, team members hesitate to take initiative, leading to unnecessary back-and-forth, or waiting for approvals. This lack of empowerment stalls progress and results in unnecessary matters being brought to a meeting.
