The worse meeting you ever attended?

It's no secret that meetings can, well, suck. Meetings are long, people have side conversations and sometimes the leader can't control an overly chatty person. You know the drill.

I'm finishing a workbook for my March call on how to save a dysfunctional meeting without looking like a jerk and a few tips on being a better leader when you're in charge. It would be great to use 'real life' examples (anonymously, of course) to demonstrate the tips!

So, please tell me about the worst meeting you ever attended or the group meeting pet peeves that drives you crazy! Thanks! Dina

Tags: meetings, planner, professionals, wedding

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Permalink Reply by Favors by Dorinda on March 15, 2010 at 4:40pm

Hi Dina,

Group pet peeve that drives me crazy....when one person decides they are the only one who is capable of adding anything to the discussion. A group discussion should be just that, a group. Not one person trying to sway everyone else to their point of view. No point in having a group when that happens. Would love to just say "Shut Up!" but of course that wouldn't prove anything and makes you look like you're the one looking for the attention.

Dorinda

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Permalink Reply by WeddingMediator on March 15, 2010 at 10:23pm

Oh, I hear you. Nobody likes the meeting bully. Sadly, I think that person is often well intentioned but not skillful enough at advocating for her ideas. Just talking, talking, talking, half out of passion, half out of fear. I been there!

What's so frustrating, I think, is that everyone is waiting for the leader to wrestle the meeting back from this person, somehow. Oy! That's when my superpowers really come in handy! I use my superhuman capacity for compassion (and use a compound question to redirect back to a group discussion).

I'd forgotten how annoying that can be! I'll definitely use this example; it's classic! Thanks, Dorinda!