Episode Summary
Being overmeeting is not a calendar problem. It is a you problem, and most leaders are not ready to hear that.
In this episode, Whitney traces the meeting epidemic back to its roots, from factory floors at the dawn of the industrial age to the rise of uncertainty that historically drives more meetings, not fewer. She makes the case that before you do a calendar audit, you need to do an honest self-audit. Because a lot of the meetings filling your days are there for reasons that have nothing to do with your business and everything to do with your identity.
If your calendar is running your life, this one is worth your time.
Key Takeaways
The overmeeting epidemic is not a scheduling problem. It is a clarity, trust, and identity problem hiding inside a scheduling problem
Historically, periods of uncertainty and chaos correlate with a rise in meeting frequency. We are in one of those periods now and it shows
Most meeting audits focus on subtraction. Few ask the harder question: why did we add all these meetings in the first place
A meeting without a clear purpose and a structure designed to achieve that purpose is an expensive waste of everyone's time, including yours
Some meetings exist because the leader does not trust their team, does not feel informed, or has no other way to connect. That is worth admitting
Meetings filled with executives are among the most expensive line items in any organization. Most companies have never calculated that cost
The identity piece is real. For many leaders, a packed calendar is proof of value. Cutting meetings in half sounds liberating until it creates panic
Introverts and unprepared attendees will not contribute meaningfully in a discussion meeting. Meeting design has to account for how people actually process information
Repeat meetings on the same topic are often a symptom of unclear expectations, under-prepared attendees, or a decision that was never actually made
The fix is three dimensional: start with the individual, examine the team dynamics, then look at the structural and systemic issues
Links & Resources
Glowe Connective: gloweconnective.com
Whitney Kenter on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/whitney-k-glowe
Follow the Glowe Podcast: [add platform links when live]
Book a conversation with Glowe: gloweconnective.com/contact
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organizations or affiliates. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Any examples or stories shared are illustrative and have been anonymized where appropriate. Listeners are encouraged to use their own judgment and seek professional guidance when applying ideas discussed in this podcast to their specific situations.
