The Joy of Missing Out: Why Skipping Meetings Can Make You a Better Leader

JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out, is usually defined as “pleasure derived from living in a quiet or independent way without feeling anxious that one is missing out on exciting or interesting events.”

But imagine feeling JOMO at work.

Not at home on a Sunday. Not avoiding a party. But deliberately skipping a big meeting, guilt-free, because you know it’s little more than a status update or a box-ticking exercise.

You’re not worried about missing something. You’re not anxious that your absence will be noticed. You simply know your time is better spent elsewhere and your contribution to the organisation will be stronger because of it.

When Being “Nice” Makes Things Worse

It’s tempting to think of endless, unnecessary meetings as a sign of a toxic workplace. But often, they happen in companies where everyone’s trying to be too nice.

No one wants to upset anyone by leaving them off a meeting invite. People accept every invite they get, because saying no feels awkward—or risky. And once a culture of “yes to everything” is set, breaking it feels near impossible.

The outcome?

• Employees end up in rooms they don’t need to be in.

• Attendance becomes a badge of importance or busyness, even when it’s not adding value.

• People fear missing something important, so they sit through every session “just in case.”

In one company I worked with, over 60% of employees said they only got their actual work done in evenings and weekends because their days were swallowed by meetings. It’s a pattern that doesn’t just burn people out; it stifles innovation and makes decision-making sluggish.

The JOMO Score: A Practical Reset

Breaking that cycle takes more than cancelling a few invites. It requires a shift in how we think about meetings altogether.

One simple tool that helps is the JOMO Score. Each week, take a look at your diary and ask yourself:

1. How many meetings am I invited to?

2. Which ones do I really need to attend?

3. If I set aside my ego and fear of missing out, how many could I skip?

4. For those I skip, could someone share a quick summary so I can stay informed without being present?

Your JOMO score is the number of meetings you choose not to attend because your time, energy, and focus are better used elsewhere.

It might feel counterintuitive, especially in cultures where attendance signals loyalty… but like clearing rocks from a stream, every skipped meeting creates more flow. People reclaim time for deep work, creative thinking, and strategic problem-solving.

Why Leaders and L&D Should Champion It

Meeting overload isn’t just a scheduling nuisance. It’s a leadership and culture issue. When employees feel they must be in every meeting to be seen as engaged, it signals a workplace that values visibility over impact.

Leaders and L&D teams can help shift that by:

• Modelling smarter attendance. When senior leaders are selective about their own meetings, it sends a message that results, not presence, matter.

• Improving how meetings run. Clear agendas, decision points, and outcomes reduce the need for large groups to sit through every discussion.

• Normalising post-meeting summaries. When information is shared openly, fewer people feel pressured to be in the room “just in case.”

• Refocusing on impact, not hours. Recognising results and contributions, not the number of Zoom calls someone attends, changes what’s valued.

Building a Culture of Flow, Not FOMO

JOMO isn’t about disengaging or opting out of collaboration. It’s about designing a workplace where people have the time and energy to focus on what truly drives impact.

It takes courage to step back from unnecessary meetings, especially when everyone else is still saying yes. You might even miss something occasionally. But as people begin to see the benefits… more time, more energy, better decisions, the culture starts to shift.

What would your JOMO score be this week? And more importantly, what would it look like if your entire organisation embraced it?