tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post1324685637593857349..comments2024-03-25T22:12:49.064-07:00Comments on Gerald Weinberg's Secrets of Writing and Consulting: Why We Love and Hate MeetingsGerald M. Weinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05902673055244863609noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-81421395895008914362009-05-23T12:59:06.977-07:002009-05-23T12:59:06.977-07:00I like "working sessions." I think there...I like "working sessions." I think there's maybe three kinds of things that get called "meetings" - "conversations", "working sessions" and "rituals."<br /><br />"Conversation" remind me of "speech acts" from Searle & company. Something happens in language-land. A commitment gets made or accepted. A bit of reality gets defined. Someone asks a question.<br /><br />Searle's speech acts don't really have a name for a "working session" like we're used to in doing technical work - bunch of people working together on one deliverable result. So, that's a good term. Isn't it curious that there isn't a common word for a bunch of people working together making something?<br /><br />Kabuki-theater "meetings" seem mostly like rituals to me. People need rituals, too, even doing technical work. The big sign-off meeting (ritual.) The triage meeting (ritual.) I think it's valuable to tie big events to rituals. For example, in software a release "meeting" seems important to me. If it doesn't feel like an important ritual, something is wrong.<br /><br />Unfortunately a lot of "meetings" in organizations are really one specific "ritual" the "I'm important and get to waste your time." ritual. I don't like that one very much.Jim Bullockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824981079885202606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-20345648542573827882009-05-22T15:42:29.027-07:002009-05-22T15:42:29.027-07:00Fiona is quite correct, as usual.
By calling it a...Fiona is quite correct, as usual.<br /><br />By calling it a "working session", you set expectations different from "nice little kaffee klatch and a chance to escape my dreadful cubicle". And no doubt in Fiona's case it alters the agenda from the usual "show and tell" to focus on the problem to be solved. <br /><br />I'll bet Fiona is unloved in many settings for her businesslike demeanor. Quite effective, I wot.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16818265261392759199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-54321142446084723012009-05-20T07:36:06.531-07:002009-05-20T07:36:06.531-07:00I've given up using the M word when I want people ...I've given up using the M word when I want people to get together to solve problems. I call them "working sessions".Fiona Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05261957091656214838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-5141834507111539552009-05-19T09:52:00.000-07:002009-05-19T09:52:00.000-07:00Oh, and please notice that many, if not most, Dilb...Oh, and please notice that many, if not most, Dilbert strips are in the context of "meetings". :)Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16818265261392759199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-18327590297642548522009-05-19T09:49:00.000-07:002009-05-19T09:49:00.000-07:00Here's an oldie:
Are you bored?
Are you lonely?
A...Here's an oldie:<br /><br />Are you bored?<br />Are you lonely?<br />Are you ready for a change?<br /><br />Call a meeting!<br /> Meet people<br /> Eat donuts<br /> Draw org charts<br /><br />Meetings - the practical alternative to work!Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16818265261392759199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922407.post-9578179845831994772009-05-18T04:51:00.000-07:002009-05-18T04:51:00.000-07:00A friend of mine loves meetings. His favorite sayi...A friend of mine loves meetings. His favorite saying is that he would rather go to a meeting than to a movie. I have attended a few meetings that were more entertaining than most movies. I have not attended many productive meetings. I suppose I fall into the nerd category of wanting to solve things.<br /><br />Still, if I have the "right" attitude (I want to be entertained and I am attending a meeting of very entertaining clowns), meetings are okay.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02305697664289102933noreply@blogger.com