Meeting Bitch!?
The only thing I dislike more than other people’s drama is other people’s meetings. Let’s face it, most meetings are dull, uneventful, and full of narcoleptic inducing briefings. I like my meetings fun, quick, and to the point. If you’re finding yourself going to more meetings in the dull category, might I suggest getting a “meeting bitch?” Before you are offended by my terminology, let me explain.
During my last tour in Washington, DC I was “invited” to many meetings. I had more meetings than one person could possibly want (or handle) on their own. Some days, I would have back to back meetings for 8 hours! After about six months of trying to attend every meeting I could, I had finally hit my breaking point. After careful thought, I brought one of my trusted division heads in and informed me that he, from that point forward would attend meetings in my stead. He would attend, pay attention, and then let me know if I had to go to the next one (some meetings were meetings to talk about the next meeting). If I didn’t need to be at the next one, he was in charge of the meeting in perpetuity. He would have the full authority to act on my behalf at that meeting. He, on that day, became my meeting bitch. When I told him that, he said, “Why can’t I be called your proxy?” I responded, “Because, meeting bitch sounds more fun.” Since we were both guys and joked around, he laughed and accepted the title. (Note: For a primer on how guys talk to each other, watch “Grand Torino” with Clint Eastwood.)
Having someone to go to meetings for me freed up time for me to deal with personnel issues and the personal issues my people had. They needed a leader that was present, not one who was presently in a meeting. It also made my division head feel valued. Although we kidded about the title, he felt good that he was trusted to speak on our department’s behalf on important matters. Further, he knew I always had his back if something went awry. You can delegate authority but not responsibility. Regardless of how many meetings he went to, the responsibility always laid with me.
If you’re not high enough in the chain to select a meeting bitch, I’d suggest asking if you could be one. I spent many years going to meetings for my bosses. It gave me a holistic knowledge of how things worked. I think that knowledge made me a better team member and helped me promote faster.
Whether you’re on the selection end or on the receiving end, there’s not a bad side to having a meeting bitch (or being one). The key to success in this endeavor is to keep open lines of communication and trust at all times. When either is breached, it’s over.
Give yourself some time or gain yourself an education and bitch it up today!
