In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with
Lawrence Krubner, author of One to One Meetings are Underrated, Group Meetings are a Waste of Time. Lawrence, a seasoned CTO and fractional CTO for startups, shares his expertise on the inefficiencies of large meetings and advocates for more focused, smaller interactions. Excessive meetings cost the U.S. Economy $3 trillion annually, and Lawrence emphasises that large gatherings often lead to wasted time and disengaged participants.
Lawrence also argues that one-on-one meetings are the most effective for communication, problem-solving, and building Relationships, contrasting them with larger meetings which can
become inefficient unless strategically managed. Andy and Lawrence discuss where there are advantages to larger meetings in terms of developing professional relationships. Lawrence provides practical advice on declining unnecessary meetings and adapting communication styles to different personality types, particularly balancing introverts and extroverts. He also touches on the importance of direct yet respectful communication in leadership.
Key Takeaways:
- Large meetings often lead to significant time wastage and disengagement among participants.
- One-on-one meetings are the most effective for deep communication and relationship-building.
- Leaders should adapt their communication styles to suit different personality types within their teams.
- Direct and honest communication should be practiced without resorting to anger or disrespect.
- Strategic use of Technology can replace some meetings, but brainstorming sessions still benefit from in-person interactions.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Andy Lopata: Website |Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube
Connect with Lawrence Krubner: Website |LinkedIn |
The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
Episode 180 Featuring Lawrence Krubner
Andy Lopata is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking, and social media strategy. He is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in business, our roles, and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation, and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.
Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, among many others during that time. He has also worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University, and Oxford University’s Said Business School.
A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian, as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," being published in Spring 2024. He is also the host of The Connected Leadership Podcast and has interviewed globally recognized names in business, academia, sports, and entertainment for the show.
Andy has been inducted into the PSAE Hall of Fame – the Professional Speaking Association Award of Excellence, which was held by only 21 other speakers at the time it was presented. He is a Fellow and a former President of the Fellows’ Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA), a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), and a Member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Meetings Industry Association.
