I verified that I was on mute and began chuckling in a meeting this week when the CEO at my client started complaining about meetings. Her complaint was that over a year ago she instituted a company-wide meeting block on Thursday afternoon between 12-5, and people were not following it and still inviting her to meetings during that time window. She stated that she would be declining any invites for any meetings during that window going forward. Ironically, my director told me shortly after the tirade, he received two meeting requests from the CEO for that Thursday, one from 5-5:30 PM and one from 5:30-6 PM. The CEO also scheduled a meeting (her admin did) with me and a few others on Friday that she was 15 minutes late to and then asked what's the meeting about since no one sent an agenda.
The CEO was also complaining about too many meetings. She said people in the office have to sit with headsets all day. She also said people in the office should not be having in-person meetings, should not go into the break room, should be wearing masks (even double masks) at all times, etc. Sort of makes you wonder, why be in the office then?
I laugh at all these empty threats and complaints about meetings because nothing will change. Most companies have a terrible meeting culture. The executives set the tone, but the real culprits are the people who schedule meetings followed by the people who blindly accept and continue to endure meetings that are not M.E.A.T.Y.
I favor simple solutions that get results. I heard from colleagues that they have problems with certain consultants who are late entering timesheets every week even after multiple reminders. My solution is simple: don't pay them. That first time they don't get a check after failing to submit a timesheet should solve the problem.
Same with meetings. Start with one simple rule: Decline every meeting request that does not have an agenda.
The CEO was also complaining about too many meetings. She said people in the office have to sit with headsets all day. She also said people in the office should not be having in-person meetings, should not go into the break room, should be wearing masks (even double masks) at all times, etc. Sort of makes you wonder, why be in the office then?
I laugh at all these empty threats and complaints about meetings because nothing will change. Most companies have a terrible meeting culture. The executives set the tone, but the real culprits are the people who schedule meetings followed by the people who blindly accept and continue to endure meetings that are not M.E.A.T.Y.
I favor simple solutions that get results. I heard from colleagues that they have problems with certain consultants who are late entering timesheets every week even after multiple reminders. My solution is simple: don't pay them. That first time they don't get a check after failing to submit a timesheet should solve the problem.
Same with meetings. Start with one simple rule: Decline every meeting request that does not have an agenda.
