Finding Time

Peter Drucker identified a shift in work from muscle to mind in the late 1950s, which led to the term "knowledge worker." Many knowledge workers stay after work, arrive early or work at home to find time to think about what needs to be done, or give a project the deep thought it requires. One reason people are working outside of work hours is work hours are consumed by meetings. Meetings are necessary and effective when well run. Even when meetings are well run, too many or poorly timed meetings result in wasted time.

In a typical meeting, three people do 70 percent of the talking. Susan Cain, author of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking" encouraged introverts to prepare for what they want to say in meetings and speak up early to be recognized. She also encouraged meeting leaders to monitor who is speaking and engage those who are not speaking.