Long Meeting Survival 101
There’s More Than Office Bingo
Most folks have played or at least heard of Office Bingo - here’s Jobacle’s fun version from a couple years ago, "Bored at Work? Play Office BINGO!" It’s a great way to entertain your self in long, boring meetings. Recently reading about a company that uses water pistols in their meetings made me think of other ways we can make it through those interminable time-wasters.
When I worked in a drug and alcohol treatment program, most of the staff were either in recovery from addiction or had experienced it in their families. So we used to play “How Many of Your Parents are Alcoholic?” This was a snarky upgrade of “I wonder if he has an alcoholic parent?” The game would be kick-started in response to someone trying way too hard to control the meeting (a typical issue for children of alcoholics is the need to control) or just really irritating behavior in general. Keep in mind no one ever said the words aloud, playing the game was communicated with eye-rolls or a surreptitious note on a Post-It. Now don't be offended - dark humor is mandatory in these settings. Here are some more survival ideas...
* There is the old stand-by, using food at meetings to entertain yourself. How much distraction can you cause by reaching across the table for the cream cheese for your bagel? Or you could hijack the meeting for awhile by going on and on about a great pasta dish you had over the weekend. Be sure to go into excruciating detail.
* Watching my college-age nephews, husband and bro-in-law shoot foam darts at each other made me think those would be great in meetings. Way more subtle than water pistols. You could get extra points if you got one in someone’s coffee cup!
* At the risk of causing people to wonder if you have incontinence issues, extra-long bathroom breaks are another oldie but goodie. Be sure and take your phone along for some texting.
OK, your turn. What strategies have you employed to amuse yourselves during meetings?
This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.
Andrew G. Rosen
Reader Comments (8)
Meetings were jazzed up by having the remote from an empty room and turning the TV on and off or changing channels during the meeting.
Oh now you've reminded me of this one! Our receptionist on the hospital unit was a total "File Nazi" and would punish you if you touched or misfiled them. We found a 6-inch pink rubber cockroach and stuck it in her desk door. You can imagine the rest...
Amy:
Love it, but that's a tough game if monkeys are off limits!
Although I shouldn't really critisize her-I also doodle-but tattoo type stuff...that is, when I'm not napping!
Regards.
http://www.autocareerz.com
Regards.
http://www.autocareerz.com