“Most meetings could have been an email”

The great meeting debate has taken Indian workplaces by storm, especially after the remote work revolution. With video calls becoming the new normal, many professionals are questioning whether those hour-long discussions could simply be summarized in a crisp email. Those who agree argue that most meetings lack clear agendas and outcomes. They believe many discussions involve information sharing that could be efficiently communicated through written updates. Time zones across Indian cities make scheduling challenging, and asynchronous communication through emails allows people to respond thoughtfully without interrupting their deep work. However, the other side presents compelling arguments. Meetings foster real-time collaboration and creative brainstorming that emails simply cannot replicate. Complex problems often require immediate back-and-forth discussions, and nuanced conversations can prevent misunderstandings that written communication might create. Body language and tone provide crucial context that gets lost in text. In Indian corporate culture, meetings also serve relationship-building purposes. They help maintain team cohesion and ensure everyone feels heard and included in decision-making processes. Video calls have become particularly important for remote teams to maintain human connections. The truth likely lies somewhere in between. While status updates and simple announcements could indeed be emails, strategic planning, problem-solving, and team alignment often benefit from live interaction. The key is being intentional about when to meet versus when to write, ensuring every communication method serves its best purpose.