The Six Types Of Meetings People Despise
Donna McGeorge (pictured below) is a speaker, author and mentor who helps people make their work work. She is also author of The 25-Minute Meeting: Half the Time, Double the Impact. In this guest post, McGeorge says most of us despise the office meeting and here’s the six worst types…
I once heard a very senior leader in a global organisation remark, ‘You can have a long career here by going from one meeting to another and never actually doing any real work’. Can you relate?
This unspoken requirement to attend poorly executed meetings, while also managing to get stuff done is what drives down employee engagement scores and drives up feelings of discouragement.
A Harvard survey of 182 senior managers found 65 per cent thought meetings kept them from completing their own work, and as much as 71 per cent said meetings are unproductive and inefficient.
We sit through meetings, wishing we were somewhere else, doing something else.
Here are six kinds of meetings that we have all experienced and hate:
The meeting about a meeting
Here people talk at such a high level about things that need to be discussed, but then never actually discuss the real issues. Count the number of times people say “Let’s take that offline”. Unless you send out a clear agenda 24-hours ahead of time, then you’ll end up with five more follow-up meetings about the meetings
The ‘why am I here’ meeting
Have you been CC’d into the meeting invite? You have been invited as a “spectator” to watch and listen, but not participate – oh no! That means there’s a cast of thousands, but no-one is really sure why they are there. As soon as you get one of these invites, just ask the organiser: What do you need me to do at this meeting?’
The pontificator meeting
It’s usually one person sitting at the head of the table telling you what they think and then shooting down any other ideas. They are usually (but not always) the most senior person in the room, and in many cases, no-one is willing to interrupt or speak out because it may be a career limiting move. Find a reason to exit – pronto!
The loudest voice meeting
No one is moderating the meeting, so it’s only the loudest, most passionate voices that are heard. Those that may be more introverted may not be able to get a word in, or have the time and space for their usually well considered opinion. Take a timer in with you and give everyone one minute to share their point of view before moving on.
The death by PowerPoint meeting
This can happen both physically and via distance. I’m not sure which is worse, but in both cases, it involves a deck of at least 150 slides, most of which you can’t read because the text is so small. The only way around this is to announce the meeting completely tech-free. No laptops, no phones, no devices means no PowerPoint. Phew.
The catch-up meeting
The purpose for the meeting has probably been tagged as “let’s touch base”. But the question is, on what and, more importantly, why? Ask the organiser the purpose of the meeting so that you can prepare. If you don’t get a straight answer then you’re in danger of this turning into meeting type 1. So run!
Meet with purpose
Begin to think about how you might transform some of these bad meetings to good.
- Pay attention to what percentage of your time is currently spent on each of the meeting types.
- Notice how much of this is within your control (or not).
- Think about what you could change right now to make your meetings more purposeful. (HINT: It might be as simple as saying ‘no’.)
Latest News
Cebu Pacific Launches Campaign To Showcase The Philippines As Major Destination For Aussies
In case you needed another reason to visit the Philippines.
Elon Musk’s X Corp Defeats eSafety In Federal Court
Is it just B&T or is Elon Musk slowly morphing into Darth Vader minus the chokehold?
TV Ratings (12/05/2024): Framer Brings Home The Bacon
Lovelorn famers continuing to do good TV numbers. As desperate roof tilers & abattoir employees say "what about us?"
Starcom Pips PHD & Kaimera To Win Gold At Nine’s Agency Games – Check Out All Of The Photos And Coverage Of The Event
Starcom proves the top agency at Nine's Agency Games. Thankfully, no one has asked for urine testing either.
Zitcha Solves In-store Retail Media Measurement With Game Changing Venvee Partnership
Does your in-store retail media measurement resemble a kitchen draw with the screwdrivers & plastic bags? Help is here.
Menulog Delivers More Beef Than Drake and Kendrick Combined, Via Thinkerbell
This "more beef" ad could have also used William & Harry, Oasis, and Bruce Lehrmann & just about everybody.
Komo Tech Announces Landmark Partnership With Fanatics Events To Revolutionise Live Event Experiences
This partnership promises to "revolutionise live event experiences". Hopefully it doesn't alert any sniffer dogs too.
SCA “Disappointed” After ARN and Anchorage Capital Withdraw Takeover Bid
ARN's bid for SCA trips up at the final hurdle. It's also unclear if other states will have to suffer Kyle Sandilands.
About Bloody Time – News.com.au Campaign Secures Win For Endometriosis Sufferers
News.com.au puts aside its passion for 'China set to invade' & overcharging Sydney cafe articles to do some real good.
Fast 10: B&T Talks Brand Rituals, Keeping It Fresh And DE&I With Affinity Media’s Angela Smith
B&T's probing Fast 10 is so quick it's liable for double demerit points on public holidays.
FriendlyJordies Journalist Calls The Police After Allegedly Being Informed Of Gangland Threats By ABC Reporter
What's better than a Walkley Award for journalism? Getting a hit put out on you by a Sydney underworld drug gang.
Two Iconic Brands Seal The Deal With Exclusive Strategic Partnership
Wonderfully, a horse turned up for this press photo. Better again, everyone went home with some manure for their roses.
JCDecaux Wins Tender To Retain Sydney Airport
Shopping at airports has always been a paradox. On one hand there's the duty-free, on the other there's $24 schooners.
QMS Adds Hills Shire To Sydney Network
Forget the hills being alive with the sound of music, as Sydney's Hills district comes alive with new outdoor.
Taboola Targets Large Advertisers With Taboola Select
Taboola unveils its new Taboola Select offering. It's a lot like diet vanilla Coke without any aspartame risks.
Enigma Appoints Ren Frise As Director
Ren Frise sounds like one of the cooler characters in the new Star Wars films. Alas, he's all the more earthbound.
Imran Masood Named As VP AUNZ at DoubleVerify
DoubleVerify continues with the insidious scourge of American job titles, as Imran Masood named VP of APAC.
OMD Brisbane Announced New Leadership Team After Rob Swinton Departs After 20 Years
A good time to go for the best desk in the office as OMD Brisbane announces reshuffle.
“Get Sh*t Done”: QMS’s Tennille Burt On The Importance Of A Consistent & Impactful Leadership Style
We can all buy into Tennille Burt's "get shit done" mantra. Yet, it never seems to work when trying to put laundry away.
Cairns Crocodiles The Work: Healthcare Sponsored By Alternaleaf
Every so often the mighty advertising industry uses its powers for good. This is one of those times.
ThinkNewsBrands To Play A Major Role At CMO ANZ Summit
I think we can all agree that being front and centre is a better place to be than back and off centre.
TV Ratings (09/05/2024): Carlton Beats Melbourne In Nail-biting Win
We venture a bet that viewers had no nails left by the end of this game!
Woolies And Suncorp Marketers On Why Brands Are Investing BIG In Netball
Brands finally understanding the potential of netball in Australia. And that's despite the Matildas' ongoing efforts.
Apple Apologises For ‘Tone Deaf’ Culture Crushing iPad Ad
AI may be the route to a smarter & efficient humankind, but for most of us it means "Shit, I'm going to lose my job!"
TEG Group Nabs Belinda Shaw From Boral
Belinda Shaw certainly not shy of challenge as she shifts from a cement firm over to a ticketing one.
NBL Slam Dunks New Network Ten Broadcast Deal
Do you think shooting hoops would be a better use of your spare time than drinking heavily? Discover the truth here.
Qatar Airways Becomes Partner and Official Cargo Airline Partner of MotoGP
B&T can't recommend Qatar Airlines enough. Qatar itself would give Hell's fires a run for their money such is the heat.
Rebel Bondi Junction Pulls Kangaroos Jerseys From The Shelf
Despite some adverse press, this is probably the correct thing to do by the sports retailer.
Dineamic Rebrands To serve Up Honest Food, Via Bullfrog.
Are ready-meals the new status symbol of the super busy? Much like hands-free phones & wanky personalised number plates?
TikTok Joins Adobe-founded Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) To Help Combat Misinformation
With all this talk of the Chinese government spying on us, B&T embarrassed we haven't got that much to be spied about.
Cannes In Cairns Delegates Called Upon For AI Reef Challenge
Just by attending Cannes In Cairns you can help save the Reef! Which may offset the damage you do not saving your liver.
Man Of Many Launches Sydney Whisky Month – A Luxe Whisky Fair
Sydney's getting its own whisky month. Topics of conversation to avoid include the Middle East & Peter Dutton's head.
Challenger Signs Three Year Partnership With Sydney Film Festival
B&T loves the Sydney Film Festival & not just because it enables us to wear black turtlenecks & say noir over & over.
Truths & Tensions Of The Modern World: Nature Study Reveals Only 50% Of Aussies Feel Optimistic About The Future
Worrying study finds half of Aussies pessimistic about the future. An overwhelming majority detest the McPlant burger.
Bernard Salt AM On Why The Best Is Yet To Come For The Aussie Ad Industry
The demographer & futurist predicts a rosy future for Australia's ad industry. Alas, no tips for Randwick this Saturday.
Coles’ FightMND Fundraiser Takes Off For Big Freeze 10
As much as B&T applauds Coles on this charity initiative, we do ask for less 'Locomotion' through the in-store stereo.