Do you believe in setting guidelines for meetings? Or are they bureaucracy?

We do believe in them, so we're live with our product Meeting Guidelines! You can support the launch here https://www.producthunt.com/post... Others that believe: Take Netflix, they have a "No Rules" culture and still, they have meeting guidelines. Elon Musk has guidelines as well for Spacex and Tesla, such as avoid large meeting and don't hold recurrent ones. The most famous right now may be Shopify, who claim that meetings are a bug and if you need them it's because some API is missing. What do you think?

Replies

some of them are bureaucracy and needed to be resolved...however i never see that guidelines are helping to bring effectiveness :/ therefore we are building huudle.io
Hassan Sajjad
Absolutely! Meetings without guidelines are ships without rudders, drifting into unproductive seas of tangents and digressions.
Roberto Gómez - ScalarOS.com
@hassan_sajjad1 haha like it, how do you set up meeting guidelines then?
Yogita Gholap
@hassan_sajjad1 There's a sweet spot – micromanaging those guidelines could end up feeling like we're drowning in details, losing the flow. Striking that balance is key for smooth sailing!
angel william
Increased efficiency: Clear guidelines like agendas, time limits, and participant roles can prevent rambling, unnecessary discussion, and ensure meetings stay focused on achieving specific goals.
Guidelines? Meh. Meetings should be organic conversations, not constrained by checklists. Trust in good communication and collaborative spirit.
Roberto Gómez - ScalarOS.com
@amy_g_debnam Hey Amy! Thanks for the feedback. You are an engineer who need focus time, do you think you could achieve it in a big company without any control on how to communicate with each other?
Alexander Dolton
Potential for stifling creativity: Rigid guidelines might stifle spontaneous ideas and brainstorming, hindering out-of-the-box thinking and innovative solutions.
Roberto Gómez - ScalarOS.com
@alexander_dolton if they are policies, instead of guidelines, right?
John Xie
Definitely, guidelines are a must! At the very least, some structure and theme, and regular sync helps build team culture and ensures everyone is on the same page.
Bella ciao
It's situational. For routine check-ins, light guidelines might suffice. For complex brainstorming sessions, a more structured framework might be essential. The key is to tailor guidelines to the meeting's purpose and participants.
Christin Koehler
Don't let bureaucracy fossilize your meetings. Keep them dynamic and responsive to the team's needs.
Curtis J. Sanders
Guidelines? Don't make me laugh! Meetings are where we gather to procrastinate brilliantly, disguised as productive collaboration. But hey, if guidelines help us get through them faster, I'm all ears (as long as someone brings snacks)
Roberto Gómez - ScalarOS.com
@curtis_j_sanders are you able to achieve long uninterrupted focus time during your day as a developer? One guideline would be that they can't schedule you meetings during your flow hours
Oisin O'Reilly
Setting guidelines for meetings can be beneficial for efficiency and clarity. They help streamline discussions and ensure that meetings are productive. While too many rules can feel bureaucratic, well-defined guidelines can enhance communication and decision-making.
Ramish Saje
It depends on the context and the specific needs of the team or organization. Meeting guidelines can be beneficial for fostering efficiency and productivity, ensuring that meetings serve their intended purpose. However, striking the right balance is crucial to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy. If well-crafted and tailored to the organization's culture, guidelines can enhance collaboration.
PRIYANKA MANDAL
Sure i believe in setting guidelines for meetings! It is essential for efficiency and productivity. Love that you've launched Meeting Guidelines. Checked it out on Product Hunt, and it looks fantastic. I am a fan of how even companies like Netflix, SpaceX, Tesla, and Shopify approach it differently.
Most of the time guidelines can provide structure which in turn contributes to efficiency:)
Jacob Choi
When our team meets via zoom it helps us hammer out important details more easily, and when we meet in person that is when the meetings become less rigid and there is more creative room. I find both formats to be very necessary and helpful for us! :)
Joël Wurtz
It really depends on the type of meeting. Like Jeff Bezos said in his recent interview, if you're trying to innovate you'll have no idea how long the meeting will take. If you did, than you already know the solution to your problem.
Raihan Shezan
Absolutely, @roberjet Setting guidelines is key for productive meetings. They provide structure without stifling creativity. Even industry giants like Netflix, SpaceX, Tesla, and Shopify recognize their value. Your product, Meeting Guidelines, is a fantastic initiative! Excited to check it out.
Rohan Chaubey
Many congrats on the launch :)