Why You Should Hold Standing Meetings

Three benefits of holding standing meetings

Do you and your colleagues have a lot of meetings during a week? You have a lot to gain from having some of them standing up! With a sit-stand meeting table, you can become more efficient and get better results from your meetings – and also get some movement into your day. Read more about the benefits of standing meetings and why they should become part of your working day. 
Two people stand at a raised and lowered conference table

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. 

One person is sitting and one person is standing at a raised and lowered conference table.
 Two people stand at raised and lowered conference tables.

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. 
 

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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