The Real Cost of a Meeting

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Hey Spark Family,

When was the last time you left a meeting thinking, “That was an excellent use of my time”?

If you had to pause to think about it, you’re not alone.

Meetings have exploded - up 252% since 2020, according to Microsoft research. And yet, most leaders haven’t stopped to ask the simplest question:

For many, the answer is no.

We’ve normalized meeting inflation - “standing” check-ins that no one questions anymore, discussions that could’ve been decisions, and follow-ups that spawn even more follow-ups.
The cost isn’t just the hour you spent, it’s the ripple effect of every minute that could’ve been focused elsewhere.

The Research Is Clear

➡ The average leader now spends nearly 23 hours a week in meetings, up from 10 before the pandemic. (Harvard Business Review, 2024)

➡ 71% of managers say meetings are unproductive and inefficient. (Otter.ai, 2025)

➡ And when 10 people join a one-hour meeting, you’re not spending one hour - you’re spending 10 collective hours (or about $3,800 in salary time).

The real question isn’t “Should this meeting exist?”​
It’s “Is this meeting worth the cost?”

What I'm Seeing In The Field

Leaders tell me their calendars feel like they’ve been hijacked.
They’re drowning in recurring meetings and wondering why they can’t find time for the strategic work that actually moves the business forward.
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Every meeting has a hidden price tag - one that few leaders stop to calculate.

• The Clarity Tax: unclear objectives that waste everyone’s energy.
• The Engagement Tax: inviting too many people out of politeness.
• The Opportunity Tax: losing precious time for deep, creative work.

Brilliant leaders take those costs seriously. They protect their time - and their team’s time - like it’s a precious asset, because it is.

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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

Here’s how we help leaders rethink their calendars - and their impact:

🔹 Delegate, automate, or eliminate.​
If it’s not the highest-impact use of your time, it might be the right opportunity for someone else’s growth.

🔹 Define the “why.”​
If a meeting doesn’t have a clear purpose, it’s a conversation, not a commitment.

🔹 Shorten by default.​
Start with 30 minutes, not 60. The best meetings expand only when necessary.

🔹 Protect focus like a resource.​
Time is the foundation of brilliance. Leaders who model prioritization create cultures that value clarity and efficiency over busyness.

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🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Audit your calendar through a leadership lens:

• Cancel one meeting that no longer serves a clear purpose.
• Shorten one recurring meeting by 15 minutes.
• Reassign one meeting that’s not the highest-impact use of your time.

Then, ask your team to do the same.

You might be surprised by how much brilliance returns when you reclaim your time.

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With gratitude,
​Jackie

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P.S. – If you found yourself nodding through this, take it as a sign - it’s time to reclaim your calendar. We’re putting the finishing touches on a Meeting Cost Calculator that helps you see the true investment of every hour on your calendar. Want early access when it’s ready? Just hit reply and let me know. ✨

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