Engagement | 83% of UK professionals can't focus in meetings

Eight in 10 (83%) UK employees are unable to concentrate in meetings lasting longer than 45 minutes, according to recent research from Sharp.

With the average meeting lasting 49 minutes, it is unsurprising that over half (55%) of those surveyed felt that meetings were too long. Just 36% reported being able to concentrate for a solid half-hour so it is quite possible that engagement deteriorated quite drastically after that time period.

Birgit Jackson, Commercial Director at Sharp Visual Solutions said that far too often, meetings are ineffective. The research suggesting that office workers spend an average of 17 hours per month cooped up in meetings and the majority of survey respondents cited them as unproductive.

She explained: “We need to make sure that we’re sharing the right information and inviting the right people, but also that we’re choosing the right environment and using the right tools.