2023 State of Meetings Study

From Zoom Fatigue to Meeting Fatigue

Scroll to explore the state of meetings in 2023 or download the full study.

Presenting insights on what organizations can learn about the state of the modern business meeting in 2023.

Surveyed 1,489
Full-Time Employees

Across 12+
Industries

54% Managers
46% Non-managers

55% Hybrid
27% Remote
16% Office
2% Other

15+
Countries

The Study

Following up on our 2021 study to measure meeting effectiveness during the pandemic, this year’s study collected insights from 1,489 employees working in numerous industries and fields of expertise.

Based on extensive analysis of ranking and comments, we hope to present how businesses have adapted to the increase in hybrid and remote work since the pandemic.

Scroll down for more.

What is more prevalent? Zoom (camera) fatigue, or meeting fatigue?

64% surveyed rank meeting-related issues as the #1 cause of “fatigue.”

The rest reported some type of fatigue related to being on camera during those meetings.

“Since COVID, I have noticed an increase in update meetings I am involved with, primarily due to some people working from home and some in the office. These update meetings however have not really improved productivity, and sometimes feel more like a burden than anything / a distraction from actually doing work.”

Male | 20s | Professional I Manager | Office | Ambivert

The Meeting Boom Continues

Our study in 2021 revealed that 63% of people reported an increase in meeting frequency — not surprising during a global lockdown. Fast forward to 2023, and three out of four workers said that the number of meetings they attend had either stayed the same (46%) or increased (30%), meaning that things have not relaxed back to pre-pandemic levels.

Has the number of meetings you attend
changed from before the pandemic?

In 2023, did the number of weekly online
meetings you attend change vs. a year ago?

Has the number of meetings you attend
changed from before the pandemic?

Has the number of meetings you attend changed from before the pandemic?

In 2023, did the number of weekly online
meetings you attend change vs. a year ago?

In 2023, did the number of weekly online meetings you attend change vs. a year ago?

Who does this explosion in meetings affect more?

Office, hybrid or remote?

“I find 20% of my meetings are [not needed] … just a call where someone reads out to us an email update they sent 2 hours ago, a complete waste of time.”

Male | 40s | Middle-manager | Remote | Somewhat Introverted

Why so many meetings?

As noted in our anecdotal analysis, meetings are just too easy to set up with 18% reporting that many times an email or message could have worked just as well as the meeting. And the meetings that they do have? Not well facilitated, frequently off track, no agendas, no outcomes!

How many people report being anxious by being on camera?

But why do most of them want to be off camera?

So they can multi-task during pointless meetings.

“[Weekly] is the longest you should leave someone to their own devices and also weekly is a good opportunity to check in on their well-being too.”

What about 1:1 meetings, which traditionally have a weekly cadence?

While weekly remains the most popular, especially among managers, there is a trend to reduce 1:1 meeting frequency.

What about 1:1 meetings, which traditionally have a weekly cadence?

While weekly remains the most popular, especially among managers, there is a trend to reduce 1:1 meeting frequency.

Three of the study recommendations:

Throughout this report, you’ll find ideas and suggestions.
Here’s three of our recommendations.

Regularly audit meeting frequency (and how many are back-to-back).

Train everyone how to collaborate more and meet less.

Train employees how to plan and run a meeting that gets results.

Download the full study for more insight into:

Why, in spite of more meetings and experiencing fatigue, there was consistent feedback that working remotely is worth it.
More insight into when 1:1s should be more (or less) frequent.
Recommendations to improve the situation at your organization.

Download the full study for more insight into:

Why, in spite of more meetings and experiencing fatigue, there was consistent feedback that working remotely is worth it.
More insight into when 1:1s should be more (or less) frequent.
Recommendations to improve the situation at your organization.

Download the full study for more insight into:

Why, in spite of more meetings and experiencing fatigue, there was consistent feedback that working remotely is worth it.
More insight into when 1:1s should be more (or less) frequent.
Recommendations to improve the situation at your organization.

For more insights into productivity over a distance, check out our best-selling Forbes book.