White Lotus knows: The real talk happens when it’s just two

Data shows 2-person meetings last longer than 3+. Learn why fewer people = deeper convos—just like the bougie chaos show.

A man and a women are having a meeting in a room surrounded by tropical plans with a monkey beside them

Any Season 3 White Lotus fans out there?

You know how the real talk among the Kate-Jaclyn-Laurie trio starts flowing once one friend heads to bed and there are just two of them left under the Thai moonlight? 🌙

Turns out, something similar happens in those (less glamorous) office meetings. New data from Density shows meetings between just two colleagues last way longer—about 31% longer at one client’s offices—compared to meetings with three or more people.

At this ecommerce company, meetings average 32 minutes with 3+ attendees, but stretch to 42 minutes when it’s just two coworkers.

Another multinational client is seeing the same: Only 18% of meetings with larger groups (3+) ran over 60 minutes, while 33% of duo discussions lingered 60 minutes or more.

Why the longer chats with fewer people? Without survey data, we’re speculating—but fewer people probably means more real talk, tangents and brainstorming...aka the camaraderie factor you see in White Lotus.

Sure, productivity purists (Pomodoro Technique enthusiasts, looking at you ⏰) might argue shorter is sweeter. Pomodoro inventor Francesco Cirillo believes 25 minutes is max for peak focus.

But longer, informal meetings might be just what the workplace needs for creativity, connection and culture-building. After all, isn’t bonding half the reason many of us are in the office in the first place?

Maybe your company's next big idea is waiting to be found in a two-person chat.

Interested in learning more about Density's workplace analytics?