In New York from 2011-17, I took an uncountable number of meetings, almost all in-person. Times were different. I miss the strength of connecting in person, and I still count on those deep relationships I’ve sowed.

Now, meeting online is much smoother than it ever was, however, and especially post-COVID, I’m experiencing a desire to connect as strongly as before, whether in-person or online. When did the 30 or 45 min meeting become the norm? Were all the productivity blooks (that’s blogposts turned into books, now you know) and life hacks really that effective? Was it the Zoom fatigue?

The context shift —jumping from quick meeting to another— is no longer worth it for me. I’d rather connect more deeply. Sure, there are functional meetings where we have a job-to-get-done or fall into a process (30 min leetcode style meetings, any one?), but otherwise, and with external people, and especially when meeting new people, what’s the rush? Shouldn’t we expect that we’ll enjoy our conversation, hope that we’ll be friends, and plan time accordingly? How could that happen otherwise?

It’s worth asking yourself these other questions, too (at least before meeting me, please):

If we’re expending the effort to meet, and given that we might not speak often, is an hour really sufficient?
Is our conversation just a one way (where >1 hr could be sufficient) or are we talking about 2+ meta topics (you, me, something else)?
How often do meetings (especially Zoom) end abruptly or without clear action items and how can we avoid that?

My new meeting default will be 1.5 hours. If we are to meet, let’s make sure we maximize our time, and that includes giving enough time for real, practical connection.

If anyone wants to meet for a shorter or longer duration, of course I will accommodate.

Ali’s Newsletter

Advocating for Luxurious Meetings: 1.5 Hours…