Why Some Meetings Are Time Wasters

Not all meetings are created equal. Some exist out of habit, not necessity — and they drain time, energy, and focus without delivering results. Here’s why:

Lack of a Clear Purpose:
When no one knows why they’re meeting, the conversation meanders with little direction or outcome.

No Structured Agenda:
Without a plan, meetings get hijacked by side conversations, status updates, or low-priority issues.

Too Many (or Wrong) People in the Room:
Including attendees who can’t contribute or make decisions slows things down and disengages the team.

Poor Time Management:
Meetings that start late, run long, or are scheduled “just because” eat into valuable working time.

No Decisions or Follow-Up:
Talking isn’t the same as doing. If tasks aren’t assigned or tracked, the meeting achieves nothing.

In short, time-waster meetings feel busy but accomplish little. They take more than they give and they often lead to more meetings to clarify what should’ve been handled in the first place.