Meetings. Generally Excessive, Occasionally Useful. Where's the line between the two?

CPT Alex Lamb — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:22:51 -0400

What are/were some of your expectations when going into a meeting? What do you expect to get out of them?

At what point do you think that we cross the line into "Talking about doing the great things we do without actually doing them."

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 20 at 2015 1:29 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:29:08 -0400

In my experience, most standing meetings (weekly director's meeting, etc.) are unnecessary. They usually amount to each participant recounting the status of their project to the boss --- something that could just as easily be done in an email.

Response by SPC Nate Lamphier made May 20 at 2015 1:30 PM

SPC Nate Lamphier — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:30:10 -0400

I like meetings but I also hate them. To me, it all depends on who is doing them. I'll know right away if they are going to be informative and have a purpose just by who is leading them.

I have been around someone who had meetings because they felt like it showed their leaders that they were being productive and taking leadership on directly. Unfortunately, this type of person is not only common, but also refuses to make any major decisions by themselves. They like to break the decisions up to others so they can blame them while acting like the leader who doesn't want to micromanage the people under them.

To answer your question CPT Alex Lamb , when the "talk" overtakes the "actions/results"....that is when the line is crossed.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 1:46 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:46:30 -0400

One day we were having a meeting at FORSCOM. One of our Majors walked in and asked what is the agenda. The GS-13 chair didn't have one. He proclaimed "No agenda, no meeting!" and walked out. He came back a minute later but wanted to prove a point.

A meeting should have an agenda, inputs and outputs. If a person in the room does not provide input or receive an output then they have no business being in there and can go about their day. This is how we don't waste people's time.

If the proclamation is that everyone needs SA then it can be managed though a read-ahead and publishing of minutes/back-brief email that also lists RFIs and due-outs.

We spend a lot of money on SharePoint. We should use it correctly as a collaboration tool and leave meetings to working groups (MDMP), updates on varied points of discussion and times for leaders to be briefed on COAs for decision.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made May 20 at 2015 1:46 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:46:21 -0400

I need this for my office!!!! I swear, we literally have meetings to talk about a meeting to plan for a future meeting that will happen in 6 weeks.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 2:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:09:22 -0400

I'll be in three meetings for a drill weekend. Each meeting is 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. One meeting will be what will be accomplished for us training NCOs. The next meeting will be discussing our 30-60-90 training schedules. The last meeting will be about a major event such as a weapon qualification, or the german armed forces badge competition that we're conducting.

We will have a teleconference prior to the drill weekend to discuss what we're doing for the weekend, also. This meeting involves command and staff.

I have often felt that I am going to more meetings than alcholics annoymous. Best way to stop productivity is to have a meeting.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 3:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:07:31 -0400

As an officer my mind was blown by how many meetings happens. I hope to change that one day.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 7:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 19:37:01 -0400

IPRs to prep for IPRs

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 20 at 2015 8:35 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 20 May 2015 20:35:31 -0400

They're a product of necessity. For the person that is calling the meeting, most of the items are relevant, for everyone else, its X%. What you run into however is that the person who is running the meeting generally outranks everyone else, therefore their time is at a premium compared to yours. So it creates this viscous circle or wasting time "everyone else's time."

The alternate however is the dreaded email chain, which no one reads.

So... where's the line? Planning meeting (give assignments). Middle meeting (azimuth check). Pre-execution check (Final run through). After action. 4 meetings per event minimum. How many events are going on simultaneously though?