A better way to direct meetings than by sublte mind games and tricks is to use an agenda and ensure it is adhered to by restricting all off topic conversation until the end. Also ensure the meeting is chaired by someone as the chairs purpose is to direct the conversation from topic to topic

I tend to find the exact opposite and the meeting gets stuck in the future with everyone droning on about the cool things we could be doing or might do if we had the time, money, staff, or skill. This causes current issues to not be discussed and tends to happen with visionary managers. I will admit these utopian rants are usually caused be some reflection on what we could have done better in the past, but meetings are often about the future so focusing on the present is unlikely to help.

Obviously some people just like to talk and diplomacy is needed with senoir management so your 'interrupt phrases' may be useful then. People who like to talk however do not like being interuppted and you should be aware you might give the impression on being a bad listener with abrupt IT centric communication skills.

You can always take a laptop to the meetings and Perl away regardless:)

In reply to Re: Re: Re: Unsticking Stuck Meetings by hakkr
in thread Unsticking Stuck Meetings by dws

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