Here are 11 types of meetings that makes us want to scream, and how to survive them.
The Pointless Meeting
You know those meetings, where you sit there like, “What the heck am I doing here?” There is no agenda, no decisions to be made, and all the details could have been simply discussed through an email.
How to Survive: Before you get to the meeting, ask for an outline of what’s on the agenda. If you’re stuck, try using the time to brainstorm ideas for your own work or quietly do some trivial work while paying attention and nodding occasionally.
The Micromanagement Meeting
Your boss may be booking these meetings just to pick at everything you’ve done or are working on. This may include the font size you chose for your presentation, the way you addressed the audience in the last meeting, etc.
How to Survive:
Insist on focusing on the bigger parts first and ask to save the small things for later, if time permits. Hopefully, the time never permits.
The Brainstorm That Goes Nowhere
Sometimes, these meetings become a free-for-all in which people pitch half-baked solutions, harp on each one and then… there is nothing.
How to Survive: Make sure you have few good ideas to bring up when things get hectic. If the meeting’s off-track, record the thoughts and set up a follow-up session to figure things out.
The Overcrowded Meeting
Some people invite the whole company in to meetings. Only a few people actually contribute and the rest just scroll their phones.
How to Survive:
Don’t try to keep up with all the details. Wait for your turn and speak up only when it’s relevant.
The Last-Minute Meeting
You’re minding your business when suddenly someone adds a meeting on your calendar five minutes before it begins. You don’t have time to plan, you don’t know what it was and now you are stuck.
How to Survive: When you join, ask “Can you just explain briefly what we’re going over?” If you’re totally unprepared, leave your comments open ended and propose calling in later for more specifics.
The Overly Formal Meeting
Some meetings are just boring and uptight. Full of executives who use large buzzwords like synergy and leverage. Most people are just trying not to doze off.
How to Survive: Be clear, direct and short. This meeting is more about optics than actual content of what you’re saying. Just contribute something if you get a chance.
The Off-Topic Meeting
Agenda says one thing, but 10 minutes later someone’s talking about their weekend or complaining about some other topic. And before you know it, the whole meeting has derailed.
How to Survive: Wait for a pause and jump in “These are great things, but should we go back to [agenda topic] so we don’t miss it?” Some may even appreciate you holding it together.
The Tech-Problem Meeting
This is the meeting where the moderator’s mic isn’t working, the presentation won’t load or the project documentation is missing.
How to Survive: While people figure it out, use the time to catch up on other things, grab some water or coffee. Offer your help if you know how to fix the issue, otherwise relax.
The Early-Morning Meeting
You just get out of bed, barely caffeinated, to a meeting where somebody’s enthusiastically showing you a 40-slide PowerPoint. Meanwhile, you’re trying to keep your eyes open.
How to Survive: Make yourself a strong cup of coffee or tea, get in the conversation early. After you’ve said your part, you can easily mentally skip through the remainder of the meeting if it drags.
The End-of-Day Meeting
It’s 4:30 p.m., you’re about to log off, and then you get the hated late meeting request. It’s like everyone’s energy left the room before the meeting even started.
How to Survive: Keep it short and steer things toward a quick conclusion. Ask to sum up next step or conclude quickly so people can end on time.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
