Meetings Make You Dumber
MSNBC has reported that meetings make you stupid.
"Group think" is less productive than pooled "solo thinking."
Now, what are we to do about staff meeting??
"Group think" is less productive than pooled "solo thinking."
Now, what are we to do about staff meeting??
Group meetings may take longer, but the end results will be better if all voices are heard.
ReplyDeleteOur company had a test where a person on their own had to decide what was most important if they were stranded in an ice storm.
The same test was given to a group of 10 at a time to come up with the answer. In every case the group as a whole did better score wise that any one person on their own.
I have came away from some board meetings dumbfounded and dumbstruck.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Wilson
Unproductive meetings will make people appear dumber, especially if the leaders/ones in control totally intimidate others to keep them from expressing their ideas. People often do not express their thoughts/opinions(perhaps great ones) in group settings because of fear of ridicule/retaliation from those in charge. Successful meetings depend upon the leaders' ability to create an atmosphere of open-communication and mutual respect.
ReplyDeleteIf controlling leaders could convince people that meetings should be eliminated, they are getting just what they want. More control.
I have come away from many board meetings (school/church) not feeling dumber, but downright mad because I realized that all decisions had already been made and my (and others) opinions did not matter at all.
ReplyDeleteI have been to numerous plant communication meetings at work where the workers did not ask a single question.
ReplyDeleteThey kept their ideas to themselves.
They were not dumb.
They were discouraged.
The beatings will continue until the attitudes improve!
The problem with these meetings were the leaders.