The Positives From Meetings

Almost all Developers prefer to skip most meetings.  These are not activities we tend to look forward to with joy.  However, we can get positives from meetings.  Not all of these activities are created the same.  Nevertheless, an appropriate agenda and dedication to focus during this time can be very fruitful.

There are many ways a meeting can go "off the rails."  That may be why we so often find meetings to be annoying, or at least time we cannot get back.  We need focus if we want to receive positives from meetings.  While we can have many goals for a meeting, maintaining focus is a common trait for success.  This requirement is no different from so many other things we discuss.  Have a reason "why" and make sure you stick to that.

We have mentioned the idea of walking away from a problem to solve it sooner.  This recommendation can be a flip to another task or going for a walk.  We can also take a mental break and step into a meeting.  This change of scenery is an opportunity to stay productive while utilizing a different part of your mind.  When you consider this benefit, you can see where it is even better than staring out a window or letting your mind wander.  A good meeting will help you avoid drifting back to thinking about the latest difficult problem you are working through.

One of the obvious positives from meetings is that it is the essence of teamwork.  While there are presentations we may be asked to sit through, a meeting (by definition) includes feedback and discussion.  That means this is an excellent opportunity for us to come together as a team.  We also get to validate our assumptions about communications and interactions.  When we skip meetings, we can end up completely lost in incorrect assumptions.

Episode Challenge: DO you walk into meetings with a proper mindset and attitude?

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