My tech company likes to have these lengthy strategy meetings once a quarter, and one such iteration kicks off tomorrow. We break for lunch, but they tend to last the full 8 hour work day, sometimes multiple consecutive days. The ruling minority is of course the extroverts who seem to love the chance to talk endlessly about whatever. For me, as an introvert, I rue the blocked off time in my calendar when I could be doing focused work/making progress. I prefer shorter, time-boxed, focused meetings with defined agendas and outcomes.
I find them very challenging past the first couple of hours or so to match the energy of others, and unless the topic is relevant to me I struggle to engage or provide input. I’m seeking some help to overcome the following challenges.
1. When I do speak, I find it hard to find the appropriate time to interject. Often two dominant extrovert voices will be talking constantly back and forth at each other, and I do not want to interrupt/talk over them, but have important clarification or perspective to offer. Since moving on to majority video calls since the pandemic I find this extra difficult since it is harder to physically indicate you want to speak and get the attention of those currently engaged.
2. Just in general, how do you preserve the stamina for marathon meetings? Micro breaks? Accompanying snacks/drinks? Open to any/all suggestions.
3. How do you still get value/contribute when the topic is not something you’re involved in, or even know much beyond the bare basics. I appreciate that our input is valued, but I don’t generally want to speak on something I know little about. This often leads to having very little to bring back after a breakout session.
1 comment
All day meetings (on video?)–damn, I would open a vein.
More seriously, those are all good (and tough) questions.
1) I would try to pick my spots. When you have an important point to make, just go ahead and interject. Of course, there are various ways to do that. Is there a “raise your hand” button (like in Zoom?) or some way to signal the facilitator that you want to talk? Could you make a chat comment? If you do have to speak, I wouldn’t worry *too* much about interrupting when you have a good point. There will be a couple of flaming gasbags in any meeting, and they need to be interrupted if you’re going to get a word in edgewise. If you interrupt sparingly to make sound points, I think your contributions will be noted and respected.
2) Take mental breaks, check out for a few while still looking involved. Nobody can concentrate for 8 hours.
3) That’s a hard one. It’s possible that you aren’t really expected to have much to say. If you feel you need to, supporting another person’s point can be a contribution: “I agree with Howard” etc. Also, on video, nodding your head can count too.