Buffer time is the deliberate gap left between meetings for travel between rooms or sites, overrunning discussions, and the few minutes needed to write up actions.
Without it a schedule of back-to-back meetings collapses the moment one item overruns. In multi-floor or multi-site offices the buffer has to account for the walk, which is why room location matters as much as room availability.
Fifteen minutes is the usual default for same-floor moves and thirty for cross-site. The gap also gives the assistant a window to catch the executive between commitments, which is often the only way decisions get made.
Frequently asked questions
What does Buffer Time mean in simple terms?
Buffer time is the deliberate gap left between meetings for travel between rooms or sites, overrunning discussions, and the few minutes needed to write up actions.
How does Buffer Time work in practice?
Without it a schedule of back-to-back meetings collapses the moment one item overruns. In multi-floor or multi-site offices the buffer has to account for the walk, which is why room location matters as much as room availability.
What else should you know about Buffer Time?
Fifteen minutes is the usual default for same-floor moves and thirty for cross-site. The gap also gives the assistant a window to catch the executive between commitments, which is often the only way decisions get made.