The clock ticked closer to the hour and the exodus began.
Messages began to drop into chat, “I’ve got a meeting at 11:00.” “I need to be on a call at the hour.”
Have you been victim of the On The Hour Exodus? Frustrated that people don’t stay until the end of the class or meeting you’ve so carefully orchestrated? Have you heard the lament of people who don’t want to go but they’ve been scheduled for something else by someone else?
The virtual meeting space has created a scheduling nightmare. It’s so easy to think, “I can fit that in.” Suddenly we are overbooked without a five minute breather or bathroom break between our virtual sessions. It seems one important way to overcome zoom fatigue, is to schedule some time between our meetings.
Frustrated by people’s back to back meetings, I tested a strategy with the monthly Let’s Learn Together event I host. For months we scheduled the even from 9:00-10:00AM. It was an hour packed with discussion, reflection, and community building. When 9:47 arrived people would begin to send their regrets no matter the engaging activity I included to close our session. Other priorities, often not their own, called them to jump into the next meeting.
Other priorities, often not their own, called them to jump into their next meeting.
Frustrated by the exit disruption created for those who could stay and the anguish many leavers felt, we adjusted our meeting time, shifting to a 10:15AM end. Those extra fifteen minutes transformed our time together. No one left anymore (I seriously mean no one) because they’d scheduled the time on their calendar and most people don’t start meetings on the quarter hour. We were giving people fifteen minutes of much needed between time. They could take a break, stretch, read emails, or prepare for what was next.
Those extra fifteen minutes also meant we could end with a meaningful reflection or review activity, providing more value to everyone in attendance. One small adjustment created a more meaningful and less disruptive experience for everyone.
Have you tried a creative scheduling approach? What’s working for you? Share in the comments below.
