Comments on: ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE EFFECTIVE COMMITTEE http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/ The best journeys are the ones we share. Mon, 21 May 2012 11:07:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Betsy Wuebker http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-938 Betsy Wuebker Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:31:24 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-938 Hi Friar - I looked over an agenda for a 5 hour strategic planning meeting that is being held later today (yep, on Saturday) and that's exactly the format. There is even a "facilitator" hired from outside to deal with process. Ugh. Hi Friar – I looked over an agenda for a 5 hour strategic planning meeting that is being held later today (yep, on Saturday) and that’s exactly the format. There is even a “facilitator” hired from outside to deal with process. Ugh.

]]> By: Friar http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-937 Friar Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:39:30 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-937 Yeah, I just LOVE those meetings. Spending 30% of the time talking about what you've DONE. 30% of the time talking about what you're GONNA do. And 20% of the time, recording minutes and "Actions" and issuing them, to document everything that was just said. Which leaves about 20% of the time to do any ACTUAL WORK. No wonder companies are screwed. Yeah, I just LOVE those meetings.

Spending 30% of the time talking about what you’ve DONE. 30% of the time talking about what you’re GONNA do. And 20% of the time, recording minutes and “Actions” and issuing them, to document everything that was just said.

Which leaves about 20% of the time to do any ACTUAL WORK.

No wonder companies are screwed.

]]> By: Betsy Wuebker http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-896 Betsy Wuebker Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:25:23 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-896 Hi Jannie- Yes, there's a funny cartoon out on the net entitled "Death by Meeting" and all the other jokes have to be rooted in reality, too. It's nice not to have to be in that helpless position. Thanks. Hi Davina - I think working lunches can be effective. At least they have a finite time frame and if nothing happens, you did get something to eat out of it! :D Hi Vered - Agreed! Too often, though, the leader doesn't do it for whatever reason. Why call the meeting to begin with? Thanks. Hi Melissa - It's so maddening, too, isn't it. Such a time waster! Hi Pete from Denver :D Yes, the majority can really mess things up. Hi Barbara - Just another perk when you have your own company - you can set the agenda if you absolutely have to meet, and make the decision , too! It's all good, isn't it? Thanks. Hi Jannie- Yes, there’s a funny cartoon out on the net entitled “Death by Meeting” and all the other jokes have to be rooted in reality, too. It’s nice not to have to be in that helpless position. Thanks.

Hi Davina – I think working lunches can be effective. At least they have a finite time frame and if nothing happens, you did get something to eat out of it! :D

Hi Vered – Agreed! Too often, though, the leader doesn’t do it for whatever reason. Why call the meeting to begin with? Thanks.

Hi Melissa – It’s so maddening, too, isn’t it. Such a time waster!

Hi Pete from Denver :D Yes, the majority can really mess things up.

Hi Barbara – Just another perk when you have your own company – you can set the agenda if you absolutely have to meet, and make the decision , too! It’s all good, isn’t it? Thanks.

]]> By: Barbara Swafford http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-895 Barbara Swafford Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:13:20 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-895 Hi Betsy - It's been a long time since I sat in on a committee meeting, and I certainly don't miss them. It seemed like everyone was talking at once and no one was saying anything. Those who weren't in management saw them as a great way to get out of work. I saw them as a waste of time and money. It worked much better when we had one on one meetings and resolved the issues with someone of authority. Thank goodness committees are no long part of my life. <abbr><em>Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..<a href="http://bloggingwithoutablog.com/not-so-new-bloggers-from-spain-to-singapore/" rel="nofollow">Not So New Blogs - From Spain to Singapore</a></abbr></em> Hi Betsy – It’s been a long time since I sat in on a committee meeting, and I certainly don’t miss them. It seemed like everyone was talking at once and no one was saying anything. Those who weren’t in management saw them as a great way to get out of work. I saw them as a waste of time and money. It worked much better when we had one on one meetings and resolved the issues with someone of authority.

Thank goodness committees are no long part of my life.

Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..Not So New Blogs – From Spain to Singapore

]]> By: peter http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-894 peter Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:28:46 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-894 I agree with Vered - MomGrind. The only meetings worth while are those in which a leader makes the decisions after hearing all the input. If it is decision by committee, forget it. Majority rules is not always the right answer. <abbr><em>peter´s last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PassingThru/~3/518864526/" rel="nofollow">ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE EFFECTIVE COMMITTEE</a></abbr></em> I agree with Vered – MomGrind. The only meetings worth while are those in which a leader makes the decisions after hearing all the input. If it is decision by committee, forget it. Majority rules is not always the right answer.

peter´s last blog post..ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE EFFECTIVE COMMITTEE

]]> By: Melissa Donovanq http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-891 Melissa Donovanq Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:21:25 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-891 I've never sat on a committee but I've been in more than enough meetings that consisted of useless banter. <abbr><em>Melissa Donovanq´s last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WritingForward/~3/519572332/when-writers-blog" rel="nofollow">When Writers Blog</a></abbr></em> I’ve never sat on a committee but I’ve been in more than enough meetings that consisted of useless banter.

Melissa Donovanq´s last blog post..When Writers Blog

]]> By: Vered - MomGrind http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-889 Vered - MomGrind Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:47:21 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-889 "Decisive, bold moves are generally made by individuals, bucking the group-think of advisors. " - I agree. Group meetings are fine, as long as there's a leader who gathers the input, then makes the decision. “Decisive, bold moves are generally made by individuals, bucking the group-think of advisors. ” – I agree. Group meetings are fine, as long as there’s a leader who gathers the input, then makes the decision.

]]> By: Davina http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-887 Davina Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:48:46 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-887 Hi Betsy. I agree with Kathy and Jannie, re "effective committee" being an oxymoron. I don't miss meetings AT ALL! I hadn't considered this before but I wonder if "working lunches" are more effective. People seem to connect better over food. (Not that I agree in working lunches -- bad for digestion.) Is that why more companies offer meetings over lunch nowadays... or, is it to squeeze another ounce of your time? Sadly, I think the latter is the case. <abbr><em>Davina´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.shadesofcrimson.com/2009/01/21/how-curious-moments-add-value/" rel="nofollow">How Curious Moments Add Value</a></abbr></em> Hi Betsy. I agree with Kathy and Jannie, re “effective committee” being an oxymoron. I don’t miss meetings AT ALL! I hadn’t considered this before but I wonder if “working lunches” are more effective. People seem to connect better over food. (Not that I agree in working lunches — bad for digestion.) Is that why more companies offer meetings over lunch nowadays… or, is it to squeeze another ounce of your time? Sadly, I think the latter is the case.

Davina´s last blog post..How Curious Moments Add Value

]]> By: Jannie Funster http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Jannie Funster Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:23:27 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-886 Thanks goodness I no longer have to attend meetings, but when I did they sapped the very life force out of me, usually. "I truly believe that the term “effective committee” is an oxymoron!! " Dittoes, Kathy! <abbr><em>Jannie Funster´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.janniefunster.com/?p=3657" rel="nofollow">And the ukulele song winner is…</a></abbr></em> Thanks goodness I no longer have to attend meetings, but when I did they sapped the very life force out of me, usually.

“I truly believe that the term “effective committee” is an oxymoron!! ” Dittoes, Kathy!

Jannie Funster´s last blog post..And the ukulele song winner is…

]]> By: Betsy Wuebker http://passingthru.com/2009/01/endangered-species-the-effective-committee/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Betsy Wuebker Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:10:00 +0000 http://passingthru.com/?p=1100#comment-885 Hi Mike - What a good point! Sometimes disassociation provides a better or more relaxed experience. It is good to know that the pain of the meeting is only temporary and more by choice than when you had to be there, isn't it? Thanks. Hi Mike – What a good point! Sometimes disassociation provides a better or more relaxed experience. It is good to know that the pain of the meeting is only temporary and more by choice than when you had to be there, isn’t it? Thanks.

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