[vncecartersknee]

How many people are even at liberty to just say “no sorry I’m not attending any meetings in this 4 hour block” ?

My boss/team leader/other manager would just laugh in my face if I said I couldn’t attend meetings or asked to have them moved because of swiss cheese or something

[maigret]

1. The way you counter such a request matters much more than the actual thing. Here, if you mention "swiss cheese", it's clear you'll get laughed at. However if you answer "I am currently bringing all meetings into clusters so I can fully focus on delivering urgent project X for the business outcome Y or client Z", you might get a different answer.

2. You have to actually try it to really know if that works or not

3. It might not stick the first time but if you do it a bit more often without being forceful (just asking "is there a time that would work in the afternoon too?"), then it might lead to a better outcome.

Overall, frame it as a gain for the company, not for yourself.

[Cthulhu_]

I was waiting for a comment like this; it implies that you yourself are in charge of your time. In practice, you're working with dozens (?) of other people that all have their tasks to do, and who need some coordination.

Some can be done to change company culture to reduce and optimize meetings, of course. Hopefully.

[yoz-y]

Depending on the org you work for it can range from "pretty much everybody" to "nobody".

[galoisgirl]

You and your boss should have the common goal of you being productive.

"I need a big chunk of time to do my job well" sounds very different from "attached is my list of demands".

[pletnes]

I’m not so I just add something to my calendar. Busy meeting people often use the outlook scheduler to pick a time, and since I’m busy they don’t bother, and just find some other time. Works most of the time.

[jrib]

On the other hand, you can tell your boss/team leader/other manager:

> these constant meetings are killing my productivity

Let them decide that the meetings are worth killing productivity.