(^178) 97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know
Increase Communication: Hold Frequent, Instant Meetings
Increase Communication: Hold Frequent, Instant Meetings
Richard Sheridan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
SoFTWARE PRojECT MAnAgERS often fall into the deadly trap of regu-
larly scheduling their teams for painful meetings that have the unfortunate,
unintended effect of actually decreasing communications. One of the all-time
dreaded meetings is the classic Monday morning status meeting. As if Mon-
days weren’t bad enough already!
If you aren’t convinced that most meetings should be killed, try this experi-
ment. As the software project manager, don’t show up. Ask one of your trusted
colleagues about the meeting you skipped. Did they hold it without you?
If the meeting only happens when the boss or project manager shows up, kill
it. Your team is telling you they don’t get value out of it. Never hold meetings
where only one person gets value.
At my organization, we do everything we can to eliminate unproductive meet-
ings and replace them with simpler communication paths among team mem-
bers. For example, we have the team work all day, every day, in one big open
room with no walls, offices, cubes, or doors. Thus, when I need an answer
from someone, I can simply say, “Hey, James.” In less than 30 seconds, James
and I have exchanged the necessary information and can get back to work
without actually moving (or sending emails back and forth).
Imagine an all-company meeting with 60 people that is as easy to set up as
shouting out “Hey, everybody!” Everyone stops what they are doing and
responds, “Hey, Rich!” The meeting can take a few, short minutes and then
everyone turns back to work without moving from his/her seat.