The Disappointment Of Having Work Meetings Cancelled

When work meetings are cancelled, it often leads to a sense of disappointment, especially if you were fully prepared and the cancellation was unexpected and perhaps last minute. Meetings are frequently a foundation of organisational communication and serve as collaboration, platforms for decision making, team cohesion and discussing important or urgent topics. An abrupt cancellation can significantly disrupt the day as well as affecting the morale of the individuals who were scheduled to attend, which can then overshadow the whole day.

For many employees, meetings are far more than routine obligations but can represent a structured opportunity to engage with colleagues, share ideas, enter into crucial dialogue and contribute towards collective goals. When a meeting is cancelled, it can quickly feel like a missed opportunity to have your voice heard, to get your point across or to gain insight into ongoing projects. This can be particularly devastating for those who tend to thrive on interpersonal interaction and who view meetings as a critical avenue for professional engagement and professional development.

Additionally, it can feel that the cancellation of a meeting can seriously undermine the sense of progress and accomplishment that some employees take immense pride in. Many will prepare extensively for meetings by organising their thoughts, compiling reports and data and having ready their valuable professional contributions. When a meeting is abruptly taken off the daily schedule, it can lead to the work that has already been prepared as futile and can lead to a sense of frustration. The disruption can affect the flow of crucial timelines which causes delays and additional stress as teams try to reschedule and realign their plans accordingly.

Meetings can provide a break in the routine of a working day and if you tend to work alone or with minimal interaction, a meeting can offer a welcome opportunity to connect with others and gain a broader perspective regarding the company’s objectives. A cancellation of a much anticipated meeting can cause a real void in the day, potentially leading to loss of direction and motivation for some employees.

It goes without saying that frequent cancellations can reduce trust in organisational reliability and leadership. It signals potential disorganisation and poor time management which obviously affects employee morale and confidence in the company’s abilities.

Organisations should strive to minimise cancellations of meetings but if they do need to be cancelled for whatever reason then the reasons why should be clearly communicated and the meeting rescheduled promptly in order to maintain morale, focus, trust and continuity.