Having recently facilitated, observed and led senior leadership meetings across multiple industries, I’ve witnessed transformational outcomes that go far beyond what any spreadsheet can capture.
The tangible results speak volumes: strategic prioritisation that saves countless hours and resources whilst boosting revenue; dismantling silos to unlock expertise and drive focused outcomes; implementing formulas worth millions; and building relationships that remove barriers for large teams, accelerating time-to-market and improving sales performance.
Yet I’m increasingly concerned by the knee-jerk response to cost pressures: cutting travel budgets, cancelling face-to-face meetings, and slashing training programmes. This feels like lazy leadership—focusing on easily measurable line items rather than addressing where real waste occurs: poor prioritisation, endless distractions, performance blockers, silo mentality and meetings that add zero value.
Here’s what finance teams often miss: humans are inherently social beings. That walk from a hotel to a meeting room might spark the next breakthrough idea. The honest dialogue that only happens when looking someone in the eye can remove the biggest blocker your organisation faces.
Whilst the ROI of well-run face-to-face meetings is challenging to quantify, the impact is undeniable. The real question isn’t whether we can afford these investments—it’s whether we can afford not to make them.
To finance teams: look beyond the cold numbers. Understand human performance. If you truly want to move the needle, invest in the connections that drive results. Unlocking performance is not a line item. The cost of distraction is materialistic and if removed could give you the biggest performance gain in a long time. (If you want to learn how, read this previous article – https://www.sarahscottdesign.co.za/bringyouragame/the-cost-of-distraction-regaining-focus-and-productivity-in-the-age-of-constant-interruption/.
