I do not like meetings.
I am trying to be very civil with this. In truth, I hate meetings. I can deal with a meeting for about an hour. A meeting longer than an hour annoys me. A meeting longer than ninety minutes angers me. A meeting longer than two hours turns me into a quiet, boiling, rage-filled nutjob. It doesn’t really matter what kind of meeting. (I should note that most of my meetings take place after 11 hours of work, so my candle is already burned.)
There must be people in the world who like meetings. They must be people who enjoy the social aspect. I quit being on a board at church because it was all older ladies, and we had about 15 minutes of actual information to go over, then 30 minutes of re-hashing old things that we had re-hashed the last three meetings, then an HOUR of chit-chat/tangential stories. I was a pen-clicker back then, and would click my pen nervously as the minutes ticked by. I have since learned that that is in appropriate behavior when one is annoyed. Now I go full-on Ally McBeal in my head and imagine standing on the table screaming ‘SHUT UP!!! JUST EVERYONE SHUT UP SO THIS CAN BE OVER!!!‘
So, what I want to know is: What is your meeting tolerance?
Brad says
I’ve wondered often about how long meetings are and what could shorten them. I don’t know that I’ve ever attended a meeting where things moved along efficiently AND we got things accomplished. I’ve been to short meetings that accomplished nothing, and I’ve been to meetings that accomplished stuff but went on forever. I don’t think I’ve never experienced both. Is that even possible?
Deborah says
A few years back I was on a church committee that consisted mostly of mothers of young children. Most of us brought our very young children with us because there was no other place for them. Those were the best meetings I’ve ever been to. Everyone was politely to the point because we all had to get out of there. That’s when I decided that the world would be a better place if everyone had to have a two-year-old on their lap during meetings.
Lauren's mom says
I have little tolerance for meetings, also -- especially “ladies” meetings, but any meeting. So, -- the best thing to do when you have had enough is to leave. I have done that. (You must be your mother’s daughter.)
Peggy says
It depends on the meeting. When I was in banking, I HATED the meetings. They were long & boring. So much unnecessary stuff spoken. I think I used to sleep with my eyes open.
When I was on a church board, it was the perfect set of people. We accomplished things lickety split.
My biggest problem with long, boring meetings is getting all fuzzy…and trying to stay awake. I don’t remember getting angry. Just shutting down.
Kris says
I. Hate. Meetings. And ladies’ aid…oy. Years ago, when we first moved here, the president of ladies’ aid said they really wanted Jason at every meeting. I commented that then we wouldn’t BOTH be able to come, because I didn’t want to hire a babysitter…and she said that they REALLY wanted Jason there. Alleluia! As long as we keep adding little kids to our household, I might NEVER be expected to attend:)
Peggy says
I hate meetings. I was president of our Lions Club and we had the shortest meetings ever. During a long meeting a tend to doodle.