World News for Students of English

01-07-2025 07:00

Many office workers feel frustrated by meetings that seem pointless. A recent survey shows that the average UK worker spends 27 days a year in such meetings. But improving meetings is possible with the right strategies.

First, preparation is very important. Whether you are running the meeting or attending, preparing in advance makes the meeting more useful. Chairs should send out an agenda and maybe a starting question. Participants should read the materials and consider what they want to say. Knowing who is in the meeting also helps – chairs should give everyone, both extroverts and introverts, a chance to speak.

Online meetings offer helpful tools like name tags and hand-raising options, but hybrid meetings (some online, some in person) are less effective if not planned well. Including short breaks and even mindfulness moments can make meetings more productive.

Finally, following up with notes and thanking people matters. Good meetings need planning, energy, and a bit of kindness from everyone involved. Meetings are not going away, but with a few smart steps, they can be a lot better.

Difficult words: chair (the person in charge of a meeting), agenda (a list of things to talk about in a meeting), hybrid (made of two different parts).

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