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Show HN: An app that helps engineers fight back against pointless meetings

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Re: Show HN: An app that helps engineers fight back against pointless meetings

#32

Post by f6v »

Programmers often think the technical aspect of the work is the most important. I’ve met many developers wannabe entrepreneurs who were convinced they had to spend as much time perfecting their app as possible instead of talking to prospective customers. We all know that doesn’t end well.

What I realized over my relatively long IT career is that maybe developers just don’t get why meetings are necessary. Not saying all meetings are equally useful, many of them are in fact a waste of time. But many engineers are narrow-minded and outright reject all the benefits of getting into the same room and discussing a problem.

Re: Show HN: An app that helps engineers fight back against pointless meetings

#33

Post by thanksforfish »

ryandrake wrote: post #25

This always seems to be such a controversial view here, but if you think a meeting is pointless and that you have nothing to gain from it or contribute to it, just don't go. We're all grown-ups at work, and are ultimately responsible for our own productivity. Be prepared to articulate exactly why you feel some other use of your time is more appropriate, in case someone asks, but nobody is holding a gun to your head t…

Agreement from me, although I'd avoid double booking. Double booking means that other people are expecting you to attend, they may wait to see if more people join, or need to reschedule if the right audience isn't able to make it. I think it's best to pro-actively reject meetings versus only showing up for one.

Re: Show HN: An app that helps engineers fight back against pointless meetings

#35

Post by loremipsium »

ipaddr wrote: post #14
IMTDb wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What this clock does not compute, is how much money you leave on the table by reducing your meeting count/time and have your engineers/workers dive straight into the problem without talking enough to each other or with the stakeholders beforehand. Sometimes it leads the death of many man-month projects, or worse.

If the requirements are weak. These meetings try to shore up weak requirements. If the requirements are strong these meetings are not important and wasteful.

ah yes. Because there is a direct and clear road ahead from requirement to implementation. Requirements don't change and if they do it doesn't have any impact on existing parts of the software. /s

Re: Show HN: An app that helps engineers fight back against pointless meetings

#37

Post by phgn »

ryandrake wrote: post #25

This always seems to be such a controversial view here, but if you think a meeting is pointless and that you have nothing to gain from it or contribute to it, just don't go. We're all grown-ups at work, and are ultimately responsible for our own productivity. Be prepared to articulate exactly why you feel some other use of your time is more appropriate, in case someone asks, but nobody is holding a gun to your head t…

As engineer, I just continue working on other tasks in every single meeting. For me that multitasking works, and I don't have meeting fatigue at all. Then again, I'm not the main decision maker most of the time.

Re: Show HN: An app that helps engineers fight back against pointless meetings

#39

Post by AlwaysRock »

ryandrake wrote: post #25

This always seems to be such a controversial view here, but if you think a meeting is pointless and that you have nothing to gain from it or contribute to it, just don't go. We're all grown-ups at work, and are ultimately responsible for our own productivity. Be prepared to articulate exactly why you feel some other use of your time is more appropriate, in case someone asks, but nobody is holding a gun to your head t…

If you are in a leadership position this is kind of a nightmare. If you are just an IC you're bolder than I. tbh my morning standup could be reduced to a sentence.
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