Broken Meetings(and, how you will fix them)

by Merlin Mann43Folders.com

Broken Meetings, by Merlin Mann is ©2010 Merlin Mann.It is licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND License.Based on a work at www.43folders.com.

ODEO OFFICETHE CANNERY, 3RD ST.October, 2005

Petty Crimevs.

Manslaughter

Hell is other people.

Jean-Paul Sartre, No Exit (1944)

Hell is other people’s

meetings.

Me, Here (2010)

“Tim”

[kill me hand]

Here’s the problem.

Nobody thinks their meetings suck.

Ask around.

TreatingThe “Meh”VIRUS

(Before it kills again.)

There are many crummy reasonsto call a meeting.

BoredDunno what else to doEverybody calls meetingsFree snacksCool new laser pointerPrefer to be seatedNeed to just think out loudLight in here’s so flatteringNot sureMeetings are what I “do.”

For someone on the maker’s schedule, having a meeting is like throwing an exception.It doesn’t merely cause you to switch from one task to another; it changes the mode in which you work.

Paul Grahambit.ly/9KHXHf

• Distracted & Bored

• Unprepared

• Apathetic

• Late, Late, Late

• Ragnarök

Where’s it hurt, people?

• Lack of Focus

• Lack of Preparation

• Lack of Care

• Lack of Respect

• Lack of Parenting

Ow. This does hurt.

Buh?“Parenting?”

Yes.“Parenting.”

Every meeting needs a

Parent Because, it’s not all about

Youany more.

(Sorry.)

Key Thing

Don’t wait for others to do the right thing.

You first.

DemandFirst-Person Transitive

“I verb noun.”

Verbsare your job.

So, why not verb your meetings?

TwoHeroes.

MR. MASONPHOTO: THOMAS HAWK http://i-0.us/cYTsdJ

MR. HAND(RAY WALSTON)

PHOTO: FAST TIMES

MR. MASONPHOTO: THOMAS HAWK bit.ly/cYTsdJ

MR. HAND(RAY WALSTON)

PHOTO: FAST TIMES

Like,HOW?

10 Patternsto Improve Meetings

1. Purpose2. Agenda3. Grazing4. Edges5. Guests

6. Timekeeper 7. No Ratholes8. Focus9. Follow-Up10. Consistency

1. Purpose(set it and stick to it)

2. Agenda(set it and stick to it)

3. Grazing Policy(set it and stick to it)

4. Edges(set them and stick to them)

5. Guests(schedule them and stick to it)

6. Timekeeper(set “acts” and stick to it)

7. No Ratholes(set expectation then stick to it)

8. Focus(restate purpose and stick to it)

9. Follow-Up(set accountability then stick to it)

10. Be Consistent(yes: stick to that, most of all)

10 Patternsto Improve Meetings

1. Purpose2. Agenda3. Grazing4. Edges5. Guests

6. Timekeeper 7. No Ratholes8. Focus9. Follow-Up10. Consistency

Caution!Some of these will get you killed or fired.

Resolved.

Nothing matters until it gets:

• a budget• a deadline• one owner

(otherwise it’s just a poster of a boat)

People aren’t dumb.

They just chaseBig Dogs.

I know, I know:“Too much!”

Fine. Start here…

The Four Quick Wins:

1. One Agenda

2. Two Hard Edges

3. Ruthless Grazing Policy

4. Transitive Follow-Up

10 Patternsto Improve Meetings

1. Purpose2. Agenda3. Grazing4. Edges5. Guests

6. Timekeeper 7. No Ratholes8. Focus9. Follow-Up10. Consistency

Meeting adjourned.

Thanks.

Broken Meetings(and, how you will fix them)

by Merlin Mann43Folders.com

Broken Meetings by Merlin Mann is ©2010 Merlin Mann.It is licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND License.Based on a work at www.43folders.com.