Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 146 posts

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

#81

Post by phgn »

chrsig wrote: post #46
phgn wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Also an engineer - I've always found this to be really disrespectful. It's not multitasking, it's ignoring the people around you. If the meeting isn't worth your undivided attention, it's better to drop the organizer a note about why you're excusing yourself from it. Making the meeting host compete feel like they're constantly competing for your attention is just really demoralizing.

That's a good point. I personally got numb against people not paying attention the past year, doesn't mean everyone is.

It's just an easy way to reclaim time. I agree the better solution is to trim meetings.

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

#83

Post by JTbane »

My biggest gripe is "all-hands" meetings that often run over an hour. I'm pretty sure it's just upper management stroking their egos. I have no power in the decisions that have been already made, and are then relayed in these meetings. This crap could be summarized in a couple of paragraphs in an email, and I can read faster than they can talk.

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

#85

Post by jimbob45 »

f6v wrote: post #66
clipradiowallet wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We're all grown-ups at work I want to work where you work.

Then just change jobs, duh. I mean, if you’re in a company where you can’t say “Look, it’s better if I skip this discussion to ship a feature”, odds are you’re wasting more time than you imagined.

"Just change jobs" isn't always feasible just like "just break up with them" isn't always feasible in relationships. Kids, health situations, money issues, professional enjoyment, location, and needed benefits (particularly remote work) can all play factors into why one might need to stay at a particular job.

And further, we should always be encouraged to first try to solve our issues before running from them. Yes, solutions may not always be possible but learning to solve difficult issues is an important skill.

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

#86

Post by 123pie123 »

wpasc wrote: post #23

I would love to see a feedback feature (not necessarily for this app but just in general) where meeting participants can answer: 1. Did I learn anything new at this meeting? 2. Did I talk at all during this meeting? 3. Would I have gotten the same value from some asynchronous shared doc, etc etc. So many meetings have so many people that just lose time by going to the meeting and provide no updates or don't receive a…

a few of our team meetings people do a small poll with asking questions like this

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

#87

Post by travoc »

f6v wrote: post #71
travoc wrote: post #16

This should really just be an outlook plugin that estimates the cost of a meeting at the time of scheduling.

Thinking the net cost of a meeting is just a sum of hourly wages is like complaining the iPhone costs 799 when the parts are 299.

Most consumers insist on knowing the cost of an iPhone before they buy it.

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

#88

Post by kyawzazaw »

jimbob45 wrote: post #85
f6v wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then just change jobs, duh. I mean, if you’re in a company where you can’t say “Look, it’s better if I skip this discussion to ship a feature”, odds are you’re wasting more time than you imagined.

"Just change jobs" isn't always feasible just like "just break up with them" isn't always feasible in relationships. Kids, health situations, money issues, professional enjoyment, location, and needed benefits (particularly remote work) can all play factors into why one might need to stay at a particular job. And further, we should always be encouraged to first try to solve our issues before running from them. Yes, s…

It's pretty good for SWE to have positive alternatives to everything you mentioned these days, isn't it?
Post reply on HN