Ask HN: What is the most annoying part of scheduling meetings? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What is the most annoying part of scheduling meetings?

#11

Post by rkhassen9 » Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 3:31 AM UTC

preston-kwei wrote: post #10

rkhassen9 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup. It’s the back and forth. We offer a number of times/dates and if it’s a high profile meeting we have to block them all on our side until they respond. It’s a lot of steps for something that could be automated somehow, especially if there are key folks who may need to change at the last moment.

How many emails does it usually take for you to lock something in? And do you end up following up manually if they don’t respond?

It varies widely. Often enough they pick a time and within a round of emails and we set a meeting for 6-8 folks.

Occasionally it can take a couple of rounds. It’s the uncertainty of it and owning it that’s the thing.

Re: Ask HN: What is the most annoying part of scheduling meetings?

#12

Post by magicalhippo » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 2:52 AM UTC

preston-kwei wrote: post #7

magicalhippo wrote: post #3

Having the people I need available be available. When important stuff needs to be discussed, it's often red all day with no or very small gaps.

How much of this issue is availability vs just getting them to respond and commit to the meeting?

Primarily former. Stakeholders for the important stuff get overloaded with meetings, so on a horizon of less than a week it's hard to get something in.

Of course, it's hard for me to know which meetings they really need to be in and which they accepted just to listen in on, they're red in my calendar regardless. If it's just one I can ask, but if I need more than one it gets quite tedious.

Re: Ask HN: What is the most annoying part of scheduling meetings?

#13

Post by MattGaiser » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 9:54 AM UTC

preston-kwei wrote: post #5

MattGaiser wrote: post #4

No easy way to fight against them happening. Can I spend $40 on my productivity? Not easily. Can I spend $1000 on a meeting? Trivially.

Interesting. Do you end up just accepting the meetings or do you try to push back?

I end up accepting as it’s far easier to just turn it on low volume and listen for my name.