Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

We tend to have many meetings—”many” being subjective. Since we do this so often, let try to do it better.

I worked for the Federal government for several decades. Government employees meet in groups several times every day. I have also worked for companies on government contracts. We met with the government representatives several times each week.

Sometimes a meeting was worth the expense of all those salaries for that hour or so. Often, however, it was a waste.

Many meetings can be replaced by a newsletter, wiki, blog, etc. Here is information I want everyone else to know. I put it on an “information radiator” for all to see. Done. No need for a meeting.

I want us to work through something. Good, let’s have a facilitated meeting and “git ‘er done.”

I just want to sit with my colleagues and talk. Good, let’s go to Chotskie’s, have some coffee, something to eat, and talk.

Let’s think about what we want to do and do it better. We can do that, right?

NOTE: Chotskie’s was the name of that restaurant in the movie “Office Space.” (1999)