Attendee Responsibility
We talked a few days ago about how meetings would be better if the people calling them did a few simple things. Well, the ‘caller’ isn’t the only one with responsibility for a good meeting. If you’re a ‘callee:’
- Show up on time.
- Come back from breaks promptly.
- Turn off your cell phone — even a vibrating blackberry can be very distracting.
- Do your homework — if there is pre-reading, have it completed.
- Come armed with questions.
- If you want to criticize an idea or what is being discussed, make it constructive criticism.
- Be respectful and honest.
- And don’t take anything personally — this is business.
- Finally — one of my pet peeves — avoid those side-bar conversations. They are rude and disruptive. If you have something to say, say it to the whole meeting.
Like them or not, meetings are a fact of life. If we all were a bit more thoughtful about our behavior in meetings, the time would be better spent.
