Why does catching up for a coffee sound so much more appealing than having a meeting? How come a long meeting is cause for disgruntlement and groans of pain, while an afternoon spent with friends doing nothing but talking is the sign of time well-spent?
Clearly it isn’t talking that’s the problem, it’s how we’re talking.
Making space to connect is important in all relationships, whether you’re together at a specific moment in time for a singular functional purpose, or you gather on a weekly basis. Take a little time to connect. A two hour meeting might achieve more than two one hour meetings if you spend the first hour connecting.
Next time you catch up for a coffee, make notes on how you prepare, how the catch-up felt, and what happened.
And the next time you run a meeting, treat it like a coffee date.
Connect.