Life in a typical office involves a lot of meetings. But many times those get-togethers, whether to talk about a new strategic direction or a new coffee vendor, are a waste of time.

They lack purpose, the right people aren't there, or the decision maker isn't at the table, said Paul Rogers, one of the authors of Decide & Deliver: 5 Steps to Breakthrough Performance in Your Organization (Harvard Business Review Press).

So instead of making a decision, the meeting turns into an endless debate, said Rogers, managing partner of Bain & Co. in London who was visiting the firm's office in Houston recently.

And it's not just a few minutes here and there. Rogers estimates that managers spend about half their time around conference tables, and many end up frustrated because the discussions don't lead anywhere.