What is Meeting Load?

Meeting load is the cumulative impact of meetings on a person’s time, energy, and productivity, typically measured by the frequency, duration, timing, and quality of meetings.

Key Components of Meeting Load:

Volume

• Number of meetings attended per day/week.
• Total time spent in meetings.

Distribution

• How meetings are spread across the workweek.
• Time-of-day effects (e.g. clustered mornings, fragmented afternoons).

Type and Purpose

• Recurring vs. ad hoc.
• Informational, decision-making, 1:1s, status updates, etc.

Quality

• Are meetings well-structured, with clear agendas and outcomes?
• Are participants necessary and engaged?

Contextual Factors

• Time zone differences.
• Overlap with deep work or focus time.
• Meeting redundancy or duplication.

Why It Matters

High meeting load often correlates with:

• Decreased focus and productivity.

• Increased burnout or meeting fatigue.

• Reduced time for strategic or creative work.

Managing meeting load effectively is key to maintaining a healthy organisational rhythm and maximising team performance.