Autor: Alfredo Enrione – Director del Centro de Gobierno Corporativo y Sociedad
The Endless Ritual
We’ve all been there: It’s 4:45 PM on any given Thursday. The presentation is on slide 47 of 85. Someone just said «going back to the previous point…» And we all know this meeting, scheduled to end at 5, will drag on until 8:30.
Welcome to the corporate time trap.
Anatomy of Wasted Time
Board meetings are like taxes: potentially necessary but almost always painful. In corporate governance, they’ve evolved into a dark art where:
- PowerPoint rules supreme
- Decisions are elusive
- Time is infinitely elastic
- And there are always «other matters» at the end
The Seven Deadly Sins of Board Meetings
1. The Ghost Agenda
Either nonexistent or worse – just decorative. A suggestion rather than a roadmap.
2. The Mass Invitation
Because more is better, right? (Spoiler: wrong). When everyone’s invited, no one’s responsible.
3. The Hidden Monologue
When «open discussion» means listening to whoever controls the meeting. Democracy theater at its finest.
4. The Inevitable Extension
«Just five more minutes» – the most expensive lie in corporate America.
5. The Evasive Conclusion
«We should schedule another meeting to decide this.» Translation: Let’s postpone until everyone forgets.
6. The Reporting Syndrome
Presentations for the sake of presentations. Information without action.
7. The Follow-up Fallacy
As if opinions were decisions and decisions implemented themselves.
The Meeting That Actually Works
Before
- Crystal clear objective
- Specific agenda
- ONLY necessary participants
- Materials distributed well in advance
- Pre-reads actually read
During
- Time strictly managed
- Balanced participation
- Focus on decisions
- Clear documentation of agreements
After
- Specific agreements
- Clear accountability
- Defined timelines
- Relentless follow-up
