Working with a hangover is definitely not ideal, but what if it’s work that’s causing the hangover? It turns out, there’s actually something called a “meeting hangover,” and just like the alcohol-induced variety, it makes concentrating on work even more challenging.
According to a new survey from the University of North Carolina, more than 90% of employees occasionally experience a “meeting hangover.” So, what is it, exactly? “A meeting hangover is the idea that when we have a bad meeting, we just don't leave it at the door,” explains Steven Rogelberg, a UNC Charlotte professor. “It sticks with us and it negatively affects our productivity.”
- Half of the employees who sometimes suffer from meeting hangovers say their workflow takes a hit afterwards.
- They often end up venting with coworkers about the bad meetings and sharing their frustrations, which leads to what Rogelberg calls “co-rumination,” which can spread negativity throughout the office.
- Common things that add to negative meeting experiences include unnecessary meetings that could’ve been emails, irrelevant agenda topics, poor facilitation, too many attendees, excessively long meetings, and having a few participants dominate.
To prevent meeting hangovers, Rogelberg advises keeping the list of attendees as small as possible and framing the agenda topics as questions to be answered instead of items to be discussed. He says that way, you have a better sense of who really needs to be invited to the meeting, plus, “You know when to end the meeting and if the meeting has been successful — the questions have been answered.”
Source: CBS News