[DigitalToday reporter Jaewon Choi] A study has found that to improve workplace meeting results, leaders should listen to employees and encourage participation rather than monopolising speaking time. The analysis also said it is important to reduce unnecessary meetings and set clear goals.

Ars Technica reported on Oct. 17 that meeting science, which studies efficient meeting management using recorded video meetings and surveys, is drawing attention in organisational and social psychology.

A research team led by Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock at the University of Hamburg in Germany analysed decision-making processes in 22 teams of four people. It found the lowest performance in groups where leaders asked questions but did not listen carefully to the answers.

The researchers stressed, "Leaders should lead meetings but should not monopolise the conversation." They noted, "In video meetings, participants who do not speak often turn off their microphones, which can reduce active listening and interaction."

Preparation also matters. Leaders should share clear goals and agendas in advance and ensure only those who are essential attend. Brief small talk or checking in before a meeting can help boost participation by introverted employees.

Silent brainstorming, in which participants write ideas simultaneously in a chat window or shared document instead of speaking, was also presented as an effective approach. That is because passive participants can share views without waiting for others to speak.

Video meeting fatigue should also be considered. In a preliminary study of 147 employees, participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, reported greater fatigue, and the tendency was more pronounced the longer cameras were kept on.

Even so, fewer meetings are not always better. A 2026 study analysing about 9,000 Norwegian workers found a positive correlation between the level of meeting participation and subsequent wage increases and job learning. It did not prove causality.

The researchers stressed, "Rather than uniformly cutting the number of meetings, it is important to design meetings to fit their purpose and reflect a range of views."