[Jobs] FW: [missouri-l] 10 Worst Things to Do in a Meeting

[Jeanne Marie Govia LCSW]

Hi Peter I agree and have experienced many of these in meetings. regards 
Jeanne G
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Altschul" <atschu at erols.com>
To: <employment at acb.org>; "'Jobs for the Blind'" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <janie.gabbett at savvycommunicator.com>; <jmazrui at fcc.gov>; "'Wesley 
McMahon'" <WMcMahon at lirs.org>; "'Dave Wilkinson'" 
<davewilkinson at sbcglobal.net>; "'Pam Bloom'" <PBloom at lirs.org>; "'Wendy 
Swire'" <waswire at earthlink.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 3:16 PM
Subject: [Jobs] FW: [missouri-l] 10 Worst Things to Do in a Meeting


>
>
> By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor
> Meetings have been hailed as the No. 1 time-waster in corporate
> America, and -- unless
> food is served to offset the boredom -- the most tortuous part of the work
> day.
> Who among us hasn't cringed as the office windbag launched into a
> self-aggrandizing
> discourse that was completely off-point? Pitied a meek co-worker who
> got trounced
> by the office bully? Or marveled at a colleagues' ability to string
> together an array
> of buzzwords that mean absolutely nothing?
> Yet no matter how mind-numbing things get, don't be lulled into
> thinking that meetings
> aren't important. The fact is, they can make -- or break -- your
> career. Here are
> 10 things you should never do in a meeting:
> 1. Show Up Late.
> Nothing says "I'm disorganized" like walking into a meeting already
> in progress.
> Arriving a few minutes early not only demonstrates that you respect
> your colleagues'
> time, but guarantees you get a good seat as well.
> 2. Be Unprepared.
> If you've been given an agenda or materials beforehand, read them.
> Think of any questions
> you have or contributions you could make to the subjects being discussed.
> 3. Monopolize the Conversation.
> When discussion ensues, it's protocol to let more senior figures
> contribute first.
> Once they've said their piece, concisely make your points. Don't
> drone on -- or feel
> compelled to speak at all if you don't have anything purposeful to
> say. As the old
> adage goes, "Better to be thought a fool, than speak and remove all 
> doubt."
> 4. Make Your Statements Sound Like Questions.
> Phrasing your statements as questions invites others to say no, argue
> or take credit
> for your ideas. Speak in declarative sentences, such as "Let's do
> more research on
> that."
> 5. Misread Signals.
> Try to gauge the needs and mood of those in the room. Listen
> carefully to what people
> are saying to discern how receptive they might be to your ideas. You
> need to make
> your message relevant to your audience. For example, if everyone is
> focused on cutting
> costs, and you're angling for a system upgrade, you'll either want to
> stress how
> the new software will save money -- or table your request for another day.
> 6. Get Intimidated.
> Unfortunately, some of your co-workers may view meetings as a
> battleground and themselves
> as verbal gladiators, sparring for the boss' favor. If you become the
> victim of a
> put-down or accusation, calmly defend yourself. If you need to buy
> time to think,
> do so with a question that will make your attacker accountable. For
> example: "Andrew,
> when did you start thinking I don't care about our sales results?"
> 7. Chew Gum.
> The smacking, popping, cracking and cow-like chewing are annoying.
> Plus, it's rude
> and unprofessional. 'Nuff said.
> 8. Keep Your Cell Phone On.
> You turn it off in restaurants and at the movies. Turn it off for
> your meeting. A
> ringing phone interrupts the presenter and distracts the audience.
> And whatever you
> do, never take a call in the middle of a meeting.
> 9. Wander Off Topic.
> Don't hijack the agenda. Stay focused on what you and your team are
> trying to accomplish.
> If you must digress into unrelated areas, make sure it's alright with
> the others
> present. A good way to handle important issues not related to the
> topic at hand is
> to record them on a flipchart and revisit them at an appropriate time.
> 10. Skip It.
> Sure, you might get more done if you forgo a meeting to stay at your
> desk and do
> your actual work. But if the meeting was called by someone higher up
> in the organization,
> you'll miss an opportunity to make yourself known. Remember, in the
> end, meetings
> aren't about productivity, they're about projecting a positive image
> and forming
> and building relationships that are crucial to your success.
> Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com.
> She researches
> and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring
> trends and workplace
> issues.
>
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