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Sept. 11, 2026

187. Tiny Culture Change Series – Cancel one unnecessary meeting (and don’t replace it) with Prina Shah

We complain that there isn’t enough time to get the work done. And then we fill our calendars with meetings that achieve very little. In this short Tiny Culture Change episode of Ways to Change Your Workplace, Prina Shah challenges leaders to make one deceptively simple change: cancel one recurring meeting that adds no real value — and don’t replace it. Because time is one of your people’s most valuable resources. And your calendar is your culture in pixels. What does your organisation’s cale...

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We complain that there isn’t enough time to get the work done.

And then we fill our calendars with meetings that achieve very little.

In this short Tiny Culture Change episode of Ways to Change Your Workplace, Prina Shah challenges leaders to make one deceptively simple change: cancel one recurring meeting that adds no real value — and don’t replace it.

Because time is one of your people’s most valuable resources.

And your calendar is your culture in pixels.

What does your organisation’s calendar say about what you really value? Focus and meaningful work? Or availability, busyness and back-to-back meetings?

Your Tiny Culture Change

Look at your calendar for the coming week.

Identify one recurring meeting that no longer has a clear purpose or creates genuine value.

Cancel it.

And tell people why:

“I’m cancelling this so that you can have focus time back. If we need to connect, we will do it with a clear purpose.”

Then comes the important part:

Don’t replace it with another meeting.

Protect the space.

When leaders demonstrate that they are willing to protect people’s attention rather than constantly consume it, they send a powerful message about the culture they want to create.

Reflection questions

  • Which recurring meeting on your calendar has outlived its usefulness?
  • How much focus time does your team genuinely have each week?
  • Are meetings your default response when another form of communication would work better?
  • What does your calendar tell people about what your workplace truly values?
  • What could your people achieve if you gave them some of their attention back?

Take the challenge

Cancel one unnecessary meeting this week.

Don’t replace it.

Give people their time back.

And see what happens.

Send Prina a text to let her know how you'd change the workplace

If you are seeking professional advice or would like to change your company culture through training, consulting, speaking and coaching, get in touch, email me.

Say hi!

Prina (Helping you find GREAT ways to change your workplace) Shah