Friday, October 21, 2005

Meetings or mindless doldrum

It is something that is unavoidable in working life and in fact, meeting is something that is so ingrained that we have to attend meetings even before we started our working life.
And if you asked to people what is the single factor that they can attribute to as a total waste of time, meeting would top the chart with email as a far second.

Is meeting truly a waste of time? I don't think so, or rather, if meetings being done right should work in solving problem, brainstorming and gathering ideas. I believe in keeping a meeting to the points of discussion and to keep to the timing. Leaving all the other topics raised either to the end or to arrange another session outside should the scope is out. All these are something which I take a leaf from my boss which while believe in meetings in keeping to the meeting to make it work.

However, having attended enough meetings, it is more like siting there listening to others speaking without engaging brains, while some just sit there and zone out. It had happened often enough that meetings are often a mass orgy of blame shifting and finger pointing.

There are also the time tested shouting match to get your points across. Waiting for your turn is so passe.

What I would end this entry is a little verse in mandarin written by someone else. I have no idea who wrote it, so, if you are the one, thanks and my apologies for not able to accord you my thanks for this apt little piece.

開會再開會,不開怎麼會,本來有點會,開了變不會。
有事要開會,沒事也開會,好事大家追,出事大家推。
上班沒幹啥,一直忙開會,大會接小會,神經快崩潰。
銷售我不會,企劃又沒學,問我啥本領,專長是開會。
上午有早會,午後有午會,下班不能走,還要開晚會。
每週開週會,每月有月會,隨時檢討會,年底是年會。
赴會要及時,小心選座位,最好靠邊邊,以免遭口水。
雖然在開會,誰也不理誰,有人忙協調,有人無所謂。
主席一上台,自稱大掌櫃,扯東又拉西,全憑一張嘴。
內容沒準備,聽來活受罪,差了十萬八,大家還說對。
台上說什麼,沒人去領會,手機不時響,怎還不散會。
牛皮拼命吹,發言不乾脆,時間過好久,不知輪到誰。
有人窮訓話,有人打嗑睡,有人瞎附和,有人掉眼淚。
小聲像催眠,令人真陶醉,大聲不必怕,就當狗在吠。
打盹有技巧,腦袋不能垂,不然被逮到,就要倒大霉。
會開一下午,實在有夠累,沒聽兩三句,水喝好幾杯。
說來真慚愧,開會千萬回,快要退休了,還是不太會。
唱了大半天,到底會不會,你若還不懂,就要多開會。

2 comments:

Environmental Engineer said...

Lol, sounds like a short prose written by a bored communist.

putitthisway said...

Probably.......I was suffering from meeting fatigue