Meandering Meetings and Excessive Email

Recently I saw a debate on an online forum about productivity.  A strange place to debate perhaps given that online forums are possibly one of the best ways to be unproductive. Part of the discussion questioned the value of meetings (meetings are toxic, a time-waster, just don't have them) and one contributor advocated that email is best - that you get more done by email than by meeting face to face.  This, in complete contrast to one of my colleagues who detests email and prefers to meet face to face - for just the same reasons.

We all have opinions it seems.  Some say meetings are effective and that email is counter-productive, others say that email is highly productive and meetings are a waste of time.  I simplify of course.  There's other interaction methods such as IM, telephone calls, SMS, faxes (remember those?), conference calls... etc!

If anyone tells me that one belief, faith, method or product is categorically better than another - I don't believe them.

This world has been built on oversimplification.  We simplify because the world is too complex. Some say an Apple Mac is always better than a PC?  Is it?  Always?  Sometimes maybe it is, sometimes not - it depends on what it's been used for.  Context.  A is better than B only some of the time, but B can sometimes be the best way.

Emails or meetings?  Learn to know the difference. I believe that if a message doesn't get through, it's not the fault of the recipient.  The sender needs to communicate in a way that the receiver understands.  Some people respond well to email, others don't.  Understand your audience and figure out which channel to use to get the job done.  If a meeting will get the job done, have a meeting.  If email will work best (for that audience) - use email.

Getting things done requires time to focus, time to collaborate, time to be challenged, time to ask for feedback, time to make decisions.  Saying one method of communications is bad or better is totally missing the point. Context matters.  You're sending or receiving a message.  This is basic marketing communications; understand the audience, select the best channel to engage with them.  Adapt.

One more closing thought.  Being productive does not equal being busy.  I've found that good work is rarely done in one sitting.  Starting a job and seeing it through are important, but equally important are the gaps in between where free thought (say - in the shower, in bed, walking to work) allows ideas to cascade, collide and connect.  Returning to the job in hand, your ideas are firmer, maybe you have new ideas - or see new methods.  My mantra is to focus, but be free.  I try to give myself time to explore my thoughts with others, (say - in coffee shops, or at lunch) - and not feel guilty about it.  It just might not look like I'm busy.

Judge me on the output and not the input or the method.