Reducing "meeting overload" is crucial in today's hybrid work environment where teams expect to collaborate with remote colleagues, yet still need to optimize their approach. Workers spend an average of 4-10 hours a week in meetings, which can be a pain point for both employees and companies, resulting in $37 billion in wasted salary costs annually. To address this issue, employers should become more intentional about scheduling meetings, focusing on why they exist, who needs to attend, facilitating interactivity over information-sharing, and redesigning their approach rather than eliminating meetings altogether. Effective communication requires common ground among participants, which can be achieved by setting aside time for introductions, muting when not speaking, using the chat feature, and being intentional about keeping video on or off. Employers should also carve out time for socializing, integrating phone calls or casual launch meetings to maintain "water cooler chats" and promoting a culture of connection and relationship-building. By re-assessing their meeting approach in 2023, leaders can facilitate more productive meetings that keep workers engaged.