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- Why You Should Hold Standing Meetings
Three benefits of holding standing meetings
1. Keeps meetings shorter and on-point
If you want to gain time, standing meetings are a great choice. According to research (Dahl1), meetings where participants stand up are on average 34% shorter than when they sit down. As it's slightly inconvenient to stand up for longer periods, standing meetings become more focused and therefore also relatively short. Standing meetings are most effective if they last around 20–25 minutes, should the meeting last longer than that, it is best to vary between sitting and standing.
2. Encourages collaboration and creativity
Collaborating in a group is easier if everybody is standing up. Research shows (Lehman²) an increased involvement by people who stand up and work. There is also a noticeable increase in the sharing of information and ideas with others. Since we become more alert and the brain works more efficiently when we get up on out feet, there's every reason to hold your next meeting standing up.
3. Puts less strain on the body
Sitting still for a long time may cause strain on the body. With a sit-stand meeting table, you and your colleagues can easily vary between sitting and standing, avoiding static load. With increased variation in position you will reduce pressure on the back, neck and shoulders, strengthening your overall posture and making it easier to perform at your best.
Everything you need for a standing meeting
So what is needed for a standing meeting to work practically? It is best to have a sit-stand meeting table that is suitable for both sitting and standing meetings. It can also be good to have a whiteboard close at hand to facilitate everyone's overview and standing mats to relieve the body. Feel free to combine with slightly higher chairs or stools so that the participants can vary with a semi-upright sitting position sometimes.
Height-adjustable conference tables
SOURCES:
¹ Dahl, M. "Work Smarter: Meetings Are 34 Percent Shorter If You’re Standing Up" The Cut [online] available from: https://www.thecut.com/2014/05/work-smarter-for-shorter-meetings-stand-up.html
² Lehman, S. "Standing meetings may improve group productivity" Reuters [online] available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-psychology-group-meetings-productivit-idUSKBN0EV29V20140620
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