Inoculation for the Meetings Plague

Meetings are like a plague. Once they get hold, they're really difficult to eradicate.  The maxim "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" applies to the meetings plague.  Here's a simple 4-step approach to inoculate yourself from contracting the plague.

1. Start with the assumption that no meetings are needed, and delete them all.
2. If somebody persuades you that one really is needed, give in. But assume that nobody need attend so don't invite anybody.  At this step you can just stay in your office and get other work done, because nobody else will be there.
3. If somebody persuades you that somebody really needs to attend, give in. But invite only one person. At this step, schedule the meeting for only 5 minutes. That forces them to make the point and be done with it.  You should also have the meeting in their office, because it's much less awkward to get up and leave their office ofter 5 minutes than kick them out of your office that quickly.
4. If somebody persuades you that the meeting really needs to be recurring, give in. But stick with the 5-minute rule.  Allow a different location only if it's a hallway, and only if they agree to bring treats.

In all cases, require an agenda be created, but don't let them send it out. Agendas are a nuisance and double the meeting time just to read it.

That's it. You're welcome.