When’s the last time you walked out of a meeting feeling drained, frustrated, or convinced it could have been an email?

For introverts, poorly run meetings are more than a nuisance—they’re a barrier to being heard, promoted, and recognized. And when six hours a day vanish into unproductive gatherings, the costs add up fast. That’s where Dr. Joseph A. Allen, the “Meeting Doctor” and leading researcher on workplace meetings, steps in. His work shows not only why meetings fail but how to redesign them so they actually create value—and give quieter voices the space they deserve.

In this conversation, Joe and I break down the hidden science of effective meetings and explore how introverts can thrive in rooms too often dominated by extroverts. You’ll discover:

• Why most organizations “suffer through” meetings that never hit their potential
• How meeting science reveals what happens before, during, and after meetings—and how to improve each stage
• The concept of Meeting Recovery Syndrome and why introverts are hit hardest by back-to-back meetings
• Cross-cultural insights on lateness, participation, and expectations in different countries
• Practical strategies leaders can use to draw introverts into the conversation without forcing them to “fake extroversion”
• Why pre-meeting small talk and structured ground rules create a safer, more inclusive culture
• How hybrid meetings risk silencing remote or quieter participants—and how to fix it

This episode is for introvert leaders and managers who want to reclaim their time, unlock the full potential of their teams, and create meeting cultures where every voice—quiet or loud—can be heard.

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Dr. Joseph A. Allen’s background

02:00 – Why meetings drain us and how science can fix them

06:20 – What “meeting science” really studies

08:10 – Cross-cultural differences in lateness and expectations

10:15 – Common meeting mistakes most leaders make

13:38 – Why it’s so hard to improve meetings consistently

17:46 – Personality differences: introverts vs. extroverts

19:00 – Unlocking the brilliance of introverts in meetings

20:38 – The surprising role of pre-meeting small talk

21:45 – How leaders can invite introverts into the conversation

22:48 – Why introverts also need to step forward sometimes

25:19 – Meeting Recovery Syndrome: why we need downtime

30:30 – The challenges of hybrid and remote meetings

37:47 – Creating psychological safety in the meeting room

41:11 – Where to learn more about Dr. Allen’s work

📌 Find Out More About Dr. Joseph A. Allen

LinkedIn: @MeetingDoctor

YouTube/TikTok: @MeetingDoctor

Email: [email protected]

University of Utah Faculty Page: Dr. Joseph A. Allen

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