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2010-07-23 11:38 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
Surprised no one has said this...the only thing worse than an unnecessary meeting is one that starts late and runs overtime.

I was chomping to get started once while everyone (mostly VP level) were jawing. We finally started about 15 minutes late. By that time I had made a spread sheet that showed how much the hospital lost per year on leadership's wasted time...I presented it under "any new business section" of meeting. CEO was not impressed. 


2010-07-24 1:38 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Elite
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Preferably on my bike somewhere
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I find meetings to be useful tools of communication - especially when there are people in multiple departments working on the same project. I get very annoyed having to interrupt people all the time when I need to know something - just like I don't like being interruputed. I figure at any one time, I have a solid 60 seconds to work on any one thing before I have to deal with something else. I would welcome a meeting or 2 every week if meant I could focus on something...
2010-07-24 3:05 PM
in reply to: #2998712

Veteran
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I haven't worked in the business setting yet, but I work in a medium-sized academic biotech research facility. I find our lab meetings really interesting; all the researchers and technicians give a presentation on what they have been doing and their results, and we bounce ideas off of each others on what may be going on in their data or how to get better results. I guess I like our meetings because I'm learning something new every time.
2010-07-24 8:41 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Master
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Portland, Oregon
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I have three kinds of meetings.
1 - monthly staff meetings which though dreaded, run on schedule, mostly pass along useful info relevant to most people and end on time.
2 - Every other week work group meetings that are scheduled for 1 hour and run for 2 consisting lightly of what the current projects are and a bit of group troubleshooting, and heavily of personal stories from one particular person (but it's gotten better). At least they are often cancelled.
3 - I really enjoy #3. That's when we have a bigger project and need to get requirements from different groups. We get WAY more done in those meetings than would ever happen by email or phone. Those are really good. And they end on time too.
Best 1 out of 3 anyway. But then I only have about 3-4 meetings per month.
2010-07-26 9:34 AM
in reply to: #2998712


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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I used to have to go to quarterly sales meetings that were mandatory, held in the evening with a bar and open dance floor.  Family of course was not invited, because that would make the meeting to expensive.  I hated those meetings. When I'm not at work I want to be at home with family.  It was no wonder lots of marriages were ending because of office affairs.

I'm glad I don't work there anymore
2010-07-26 9:40 AM
in reply to: #2998712

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Champion
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I have two directors here who nag about having meetings all the time.  I honestly ignore their requests. 

The key to a good meeting is to have a written agenda and a defined purpose.  Without that, you are asking people to give you time but not saying why.  In the grand scheme of things, it's rather arrogant and selfish IMO.  Well defined meetings do produce good results.  The problem is, too many irrelevant people like to call meetings as a knee jerk reaction.


2010-07-26 10:19 AM
in reply to: #2998712

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Buttercup
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I wonder how much time is wasted while surfing on the internet or posting in threads on BT during work hours ...

That little snarkiness aside, what you meeting-haters need is a purpose - Meeting Bingo. Think of it as an enforced comedy break.

Plan ahead for your meeting by printing your bingo sheet in advance and tuck it into your legal pad or whatever paperwork you bring to your meetings . http://www.meetingbingo.net//>
2010-07-26 10:23 AM
in reply to: #3004577

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Champion
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?

Renee - 2010-07-26 11:19 AM I wonder how much time is wasted while surfing on the internet or posting in threads on BT during work hours ...

That little snarkiness aside, what you meeting-haters need is a purpose - Meeting Bingo. Think of it as an enforced comedy break.

Plan ahead for your meeting by printing your bingo sheet in advance and tuck it into your legal pad or whatever paperwork you bring to your meetings . http://www.meetingbingo.net/

 

I think meeting bingo is brilliant, but apparently my employer does not.  It is blocked!



Edited by meherczeg 2010-07-26 10:23 AM
2010-07-26 10:44 AM
in reply to: #3004587

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Champion
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
meherczeg - 2010-07-26 11:23 AM

Renee - 2010-07-26 11:19 AM I wonder how much time is wasted while surfing on the internet or posting in threads on BT during work hours ...

That little snarkiness aside, what you meeting-haters need is a purpose - Meeting Bingo. Think of it as an enforced comedy break.

Plan ahead for your meeting by printing your bingo sheet in advance and tuck it into your legal pad or whatever paperwork you bring to your meetings . http://www.meetingbingo.net/

 

I think meeting bingo is brilliant, but apparently my employer does not.  It is blocked!



It's also called "B.S. Bingo."  You basically make a bingo card out of all the typical and overused business terms used.  Think about how many time you heard people throw out stuff like:
- out of the box
- paradigm
- synergy

Put all that stuff on a bunch of Bingo cards and hand them out before your meetings.
2010-07-26 11:37 AM
in reply to: #2998712

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Master
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Oceanside, California
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I believe in the research.

>6-8 people = wasted time.

6-8 good team-mates = productive.
2010-07-26 1:05 PM
in reply to: #3004785

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Champion
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Eat Cheese or Die
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
So, the new job has taken up most of my BT time. But I can post in this thread.

We do once a week mandatory sales meetings. Thankfully they are phone conferences because we are spread around the country.

But I don't get much out of them. Most of the meeting is spent with the manager and the inside support staff complaining that the outside guys aren't doing their required documentation (proving they are working). Before every meeting the manager calls me and tells me not to worry, I'm doing fine and that it's not directed at me. Then I sit through an hour of him telling the other guys to do their reports. At least I'm liking the rest of the job.


2010-07-26 3:12 PM
in reply to: #3000912

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Master
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San Mateo, CA
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
jgaither - 2010-07-23 1:26 PM
betyoursilver - 2010-07-23 2:43 PM We hold meetings in order to plan future meetings.


I would like to think you are joking except ... She scheduled a meeting to try to figure out when to schedule a meeting!!!!!!"  


I am dead serious.  There's a reason nothing gets done around here.
2010-07-26 3:36 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?

I don't mind meetings if I'm leading them and can control how long they go.  And believe me, I want to keep 'em short.  Also hate days where I have a meeting until noon and then another at 1 p.m.  Barely enough time to get to the gym!

Once I worked for a company which had the 'standing-up' meeting.  Unfortunately those nasty meetings still went on for an hour



Edited by tracyhmcd 2010-07-26 3:37 PM
2010-07-27 12:00 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Master
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San Diego, CA
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?

While at my last job my boss called a meeting to go over the protocols of a clinical trial. We were instructed to review the material and bring questions to said meeting. The industry coordinator for the study took 30 minutes to discover that she didn't know how to use power point or double click a mouse and another 3 1/2 hours reading to us straight from pages of the study protocols. I wanted to drive bamboo under my finger nails and gouge my eyes out. Talk about a huge waste of time. I kept thinking, "Bueller, Bueller."

2010-07-27 1:34 PM
in reply to: #3004637

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
Pector55 - 2010-07-26 11:44 AM
meherczeg - 2010-07-26 11:23 AM

Renee - 2010-07-26 11:19 AM I wonder how much time is wasted while surfing on the internet or posting in threads on BT during work hours ...

That little snarkiness aside, what you meeting-haters need is a purpose - Meeting Bingo. Think of it as an enforced comedy break.

Plan ahead for your meeting by printing your bingo sheet in advance and tuck it into your legal pad or whatever paperwork you bring to your meetings . http://www.meetingbingo.net/

 

AWESOME!!!!  As admissions professionals, we often play College Fair bingo where we look for things like denim tuxedos, overly dramatic reunions, and for students to ask us 'how's your psychology program?'.  It really passes the time and I've been known to hand out some sweet prizes.  I'm glad to hear this happens elsewhere

 

I think meeting bingo is brilliant, but apparently my employer does not.  It is blocked!



It's also called "B.S. Bingo."  You basically make a bingo card out of all the typical and overused business terms used.  Think about how many time you heard people throw out stuff like:
- out of the box
- paradigm
- synergy

Put all that stuff on a bunch of Bingo cards and hand them out before your meetings.
2010-07-27 2:26 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Veteran
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Newport News
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?

I am surrounded by retired military O-6 and up. We have 4 hour meetings on PowerPoint development for meetings. Followed by a 4 hour 25 slide PowerPoint Presentation read word for word on why we should or should not pursue an opportunity.  Can you say waste of time?  15 minutes should be plenty of time to say yea or nay and move forward.  I would love to ban the program from the office and military. It’s a God forsaken waste of time and effort... Kind of like Twitter and Facebook LOL
These guys need to retire... Again. 

Disclaimer- I am former military and its crap like this why I left before retirement.

Thanks for the rant... I have to get back to my PowerPoint presentation due by 5 roflmao.....



2010-07-27 2:44 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Expert
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Broadlands
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I am about to go into a meeting and I am taking a meeting bingo card with me, that is awesome, I have never seen that before.   will see how it goes :-)
2010-07-27 5:11 PM
in reply to: #2998712

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Pro
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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
Am I the only one to see some irony in a 3 page thread on a website most of you are surfing at work complaining about time being wasted at work?
2010-07-28 7:52 AM
in reply to: #3008430

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2010-07-28 9:10 AM
in reply to: #3008430

Master
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Houston, TX
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
gearboy - 2010-07-27 5:11 PM Am I the only one to see some irony in a 3 page thread on a website most of you are surfing at work complaining about time being wasted at work?


Nah, I knew it when I wrote it.  My original post was about wasting time doing something I DON'T want to do.  I'm perfectly ok with wasting time doing something I WANT to do.  I just make sure I get my job done first. 
2010-07-28 1:33 PM
in reply to: #3008430

Expert
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Broadlands
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
gearboy - 2010-07-27 6:11 PM Am I the only one to see some irony in a 3 page thread on a website most of you are surfing at work complaining about time being wasted at work?


I don't understand, are you saying time on BT is time wasted????  surely there are rules against blasphemy???
Meeting=Time Wasted?
BT surfing = soul enrichment :-)


2010-07-28 4:41 PM
in reply to: #2998712

Pro
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
2010-07-28 5:15 PM
in reply to: #2998712

Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?
I work in a military office for training (yes, I am military).  I'm really only writing this because as I was reading this thread someone from across the office yells out, "So are we having a meeting this morning?  Ya know, a meeting about a meeting about another meeding?"  I just about cried at the irony, but it is very true.
2010-07-29 11:08 AM
in reply to: #2998712

Veteran
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Michigan
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?

I like meetings as long as they have a defined purpose, the right attendees, an agenda and they are facilitated well.  It seems like most of the complaining here is due to poorly run meetings.  My beef is with e-Mail.  Don't get me started!...

2010-08-02 10:13 AM
in reply to: #2998712

Pro
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Keller, Texas
Subject: RE: meetings = time wasted?

Quick check of my calendar on a monday morning.  I have 25 meetings scheduled today - Friday.  Half of my week.

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