Comments on: Meetings suck, but they don't have to

In my experience technology managers and executives are so inept at conducting effective meetings you'd think it's rocket science or a rare genetic trait.

[ppgreat]

And never, ever, under any circumstances, invite anyone with an MBA.

[The_Decider]

Exactly, although not hiring MBA's is a better solution.

[Ty Durden]

"Suck"? "********"? Is this considered professional journalism these days?

Or would you use that language in a meeting?

[The_Decider]

CNET has not and never will be synonymous with professional journalism.

This is an "blog" not a article that could measure up to any rational journalistic standards.

The fact that we get censored for words like bull$hit is typical corporate hypocrisy.

Do I need to point out your hypocrisy?

[Ty Durden]

Please note: your own comment filter won't allow the inclusion of language like "Bullsh*it" (see previous comment's censored word - so please remove this childishness from your stories.

[t26l]

Also, don't actually use phrases like "parking lot" in a meeting. You'll sound like a tool.
See Corporate Trash's Vomit List for clarification.

[The_Decider]

Hang on, the author is a staunch defender of greedy business practices so weasel words would be a necessary for him.

[hherbzilla]

@ppgreat - Ouch!

[ravenlonewolf]

Finally, someone one gets it. I have lost more time in endless meetings than I can count or ever get back. Meetings that don't accomplish anything except that a meeting was held. Then there was the meeting after the meeting to discuss what was discussed in the first meeting. Or the daily 15 minute status meetings that became 90 minutes a day, to a manager that didn't know the difference between source code and Morse code. Of course, they had to be held in the middle of the morning when you are on a roll or in the zone. Takes care of that serious headway you were making. Or the weekly department meetings that killed three hours and in the end didn't mean anything to anybody that cared. Ninety nine percent of all meetings are nothing more than an outlet for someone to justify their existence in the company.

By the way guys, if the only thing you took from his article was the use of the word 'suck' or 'bullsh*t' or 'parking lot', you are sadly missing the point.

[Hairy_Bagel]

You hit it right on the head. In both paragraphs.

[Michichael]

While this article contains valuable information, I do feel that the unprofessional catch phrases mentioned in previous comments ought to be removed...

[stobak]

For those who get easily stuck on a word in a headline:

Suck, according to the Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English:

2. [http://intr.|http://intr.] inf. be very bad, disagreeable, or disgusting: I love your country, but the weather sucks.

It's an intransitive verb. It's informal, not vulgar or profane. Please don't misinform other readers by comparing it to profanity. It's used on prime-time television and in popular book titles. There's nothing unprofessional about it. And if that's the worst word you've heard someone use in a meeting, I think you're working in a relatively unique environment.

Steve Tobak

[consumer_x]

The title is a little bit of a turn-off, I agree. It *is* unprofessional.
"Fellate" is a much more respectable term.

[tartle]

A key event I remembered from the start of my career 40 years ago was a meeting where the new boss walked into see at least thirty people and I sat waiting for the chairman... he asked each of us why we were there and asked people to leave if they were not on agenda... then the six of us left focussed on the agenda and with his leadership we did all you listed above.. we came out in half the time better informed, fired up to get on with agreed (not allocated) assignments and never went back to old-style meets...
Meetings need a clear purpose with expected outcomes (in a broad-brush way) signalled in advance so people arrive in the right frame of mind.

[digiklan]

Also, don't actually use phrases like "parking lot" in a meeting. You'll sound like a tool.
See Corporate Trash's Vomit List for clarification.
While this article contains valuable information, I do feel that the unprofessional catch phrases mentioned in previous comments ought to be removed... <a href="http://www.tulyum.com" title="kad?n">kad?n</a> | <a href="http://www.basarionline.com">Lcd tv</a> | <a href="http://www.videoizm.com" title="youtube video">youtube</a> | <a href="http://turk.bayragi.gen.tr">Türk bayra??</a>

[digiklan]

Also, don't actually use phrases like "parking lot" in a meeting. You'll sound like a tool.
See Corporate Trash's Vomit List for clarification.
While this article contains valuable information, I do feel that the unprofessional catch phrases mentioned in previous comments ought to be removed... <a href="http://www.basarionline.com">Lcd tv</a> | <a href="http://www.videoizm.com" title="youtube video">youtube</a>

[digiklan]

http://www.basarionline.com
http://www.videoizm.com