When a fire breaks out, the local fire department doesn’t call a meeting. They get right to work. No brainstorming session. No PowerPoint slides. No protracted discussion that inevitably leads to “action items,” (one of which is always to schedule a follow-up meeting). They respond immediately, make difficult decisions, and engage in complex, often dangerous work.

What would happen if one of your 2016 resolutions was to spend less time in meetings and more time actually doing your most important work? What could you accomplish? How much more would you have to show for your time come next year?

You can’t break the meeting habit unless you try.