Years ago I was an on-site supervisor for Manpower at IBM. There was a sign posted that said: "Bored? Lonely? Need a donut? Call a meeting!"
Endless meetings
I dread most meetings. They often start late, have no agenda and people get bogged down in ridiculous details. Then I start thinking about all the other places that would be more painful that the meeting. The IRS office, the dentist, in a basement with spiders... Or, I pretend I am making notes but instead am writing to do lists, composing letters and drifting off until someone gets the meeting back on target.
The woman who runs the R.Luau meetings for RNeighbors does an outstanding job facilitating. I can't tell you her name since I didn't get permission to blog about her. She might not appreciate a call at 5:45 a.m. so let's just call her Candy. Candy is efficient without being rude, always has agenda's prepared ahead of time and has a gentle way of keeping people on task.
Meeting Morons
Meeting morons are annoying and disruptive.
They can take the form of someone who thinks they are funny and makes remarks (me).
Those who come late, leave early and make a big deal out of it so you won't forget how important they are.
People who drone on and on and the ones who don't say a word or make eye contact.
Squirt Guns
Wouldn't it be fun to have a squirt gun and shoot a gentle mist of water at people who are annoying? Yes, I know having a gun of any sort is not politically correct. Just think of the look on the faces of the squirter or the squirtee.
Imagine
Today when you are sitting through another awful meeting, imagine you are eating a donut, using your squirt gun and that the meeting will be over in time for you to squeeze in a nap before the end of your work day.
I'm thinkin a super-soaker instead!
ReplyDeleteI went to way too many meetings at IBM, but I must say that the best person I ever saw run a meeting was Janel S. She gets it done efficiently and nicely. I would go to any meeting that she called.
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