How do you protect your time?

#1

Post by cougarpoop » Sat, Apr 23, 2022, 12:53 AM UTC

I’ve always struggled to protect my time for “deep thinking” things, and end up drowning in meetings. Would love to hear how others protect their time and get things done.

Re: How do you protect your time?

#2

Post by quickthrower2 » Sat, Apr 23, 2022, 1:27 AM UTC

As a start always dive into why the meeting is necessary. For each meeting suggest an alternative.

If it is a heavy meeting culture too down and you cant change it you might need to leave to change that.

Re: How do you protect your time?

#3

Post by closeparen » Sat, Apr 23, 2022, 1:35 AM UTC

Where I can get away with it, I try to insist on an agenda or a document framing the issue to be discussed in the meeting. About 30% of the time we can reach a resolution without the meeting. Similarly I try to have documents and wiki pages ready so that many Slack pings can be resolved with, “try this out, let me know if you need any help with it” instead of escalating into a meeting.

Occasionally someone does feel insulted or put off by the clear subtext that I don’t want to meet with them but most are grateful to be unblocked. Know your audience, I guess.