It’s the notification we all dread; a calendar invitation for a meeting titled “catch-up.” What could it mean? Is it bad? The questions are endless until the meeting finally begins.
Most people have experienced this anxiety at some point, but leadership coach and trainer Jacqui Jagger told Newsweek that this is not the way for managers to schedule meetings. As the co-founder of Catalyst Careers, Jagger said that leaders need to stop calling meetings “catch-ups” because it leaves employees nervous and feeling a sense of dread.
The 47-year-old from Coventry, United Kingdom, added that a lack of context leaves everything down to interpretation, meaning employees often think it is bad news on the horizon. Whether it’s days or hours before the meeting takes place, the person is wracked by nerves that it could potentially be a layoff.
Jagger said: “With no context, it can often be interpreted by employees as bad, so they spend the time between receiving the invite and attending the meeting worrying. This is even more likely if someone is working with a new boss, if they feel uncertain of how they are perceived at work, or if they have anxiety or ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.]
“Far too many people have been on the receiving end of a catch-up invite, only to find themselves receiving negative feedback, being put on a performance management process, or even being fired,” Jagger added.
While a moderate amount of work stress may be normal in most jobs, a survey by the Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA) revealed that 56 percent of employees say that stress impacts their workplace performance, and 51 percent said it affects their relationships with co-workers.
When it comes to the main causes of their daily stresses, the results showed that deadlines are the most-common culprit with 55 percent, followed by interpersonal relationships at 53 percent, and staff management with 50 percent.
Although the ADAA revealed that 72 percent of people have daily stress that interferes with their lives, only 40 percent of people have talked to management about it. Most fear that it will be interpreted as unwillingness to do the work; others are afraid of being labeled as weak; and many don’t want it to affect promotion opportunities.
The Importance of Giving Context
Ultimately, meetings won’t always be negative or drastic, but Jagger said managers should make that clear to workers and be specific about what the meeting will entail.
Her advice is to add a topic or include key points into the meeting title, so people know exactly what will be discussed.
Jagger said: “For example, ‘catch-up re: project finances,’ with a note to say you’re looking to discuss budgets, which means the employee can come prepared with ideas and data.
“Investing in training and support for managers and leaders can have a huge impact on well-being by reducing the stress of working for bad bosses,” Jagger added.
This premise was echoed by Rhiannon Batchelder, an anti-burnout career coach and a corporate culture consultant. She told Newsweek that many millennials and Gen Zers feel a lack of job security and loyalty, so a scheduled meeting without context can lead people to think about the worst-case scenarios.
Batchelder continued: “Providing context up front is a simple way for managers to reduce the stress their employee is feeling. It puts a stop to the racing thoughts that happen when we’re trying to fill in the blanks.
“These small efforts managers can make to lessen workplace anxiety will ultimately help their teams feel less burned out, more secure, and therefore more productive. It’s a win-win for everyone,” she said.
The Social Media Reaction
As a leadership coach, Jagger often shares her tips and advice on social media (@practicalleadershipcoach on TikTok). When she posted the video about why managers should “stop with the random ‘catch-up’ requests,” she was blown away by the response.
The March clip went viral online, with more than 117,000 views and over 1,700 likes on TikTok already.
Speaking about the reaction, Jagger told Newsweek: “It clearly struck a chord. It’s been by far my most-popular video, with lots of people saying that’s exactly how they feel. It’s also been nice to see bosses asking for advice on how they can get things right, too.
“If your boss does this, ask them to include a subject so you can prepare better for catch-ups,” she added.
Jagger’s video certainly generated plenty of attention online, leading many people to share their personal experiences of the dreaded catch-up meetings. Among the 165 comments on TikTok, one person responded: “I am autistic so when I see catch up, I think I’m getting fired. No matter what is happening, my brain thinks the worst every single time.”
Another person wrote: “Completely agree. I’ll either discuss beforehand or message immediately after I email.”
Another comment reads: “I disagree. If you are a good leader and communicate well, your team shouldn’t panic.”
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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