Sometimes meetings are very useful because you get to hear what everyone else on the team is working on.

But sometimes you don't need to be around for the entire meeting, in which case it may be possible to finish up with whatever point is being discussed and see if you can get your part of the meeting done next because (insert suitable excuse for leaving here). It helps if you've talked to the chairperson first to arrange that. It won't help if you're the chair and you have to stick around for the whole meeting -- but then if you're the chair and the meeting's dragging, then :) look in the mirror.

Suitable excuses:

• Expecting colleague/client to call (see earlier post)
• Working on a tight deadline and every hour helps
• Have to prepare for another meeting
• Need to reach a colleague/client who will be leaving shortly

Helped by "I'd love to get the minutes if someone could forward me a copy".

--t. alex
but my friends call me T.