Surviving Your Worst Meeting Nightmares

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  fmiclon04/10/07 Report as spam
  1

  If Someone falls asleep you should...

  We have a boss at my company - he is actually a fairly senior level commander of a military organization - who has mastered the art of falling asleep in meetings, even those that he has called. While it is obvious to most if not all present, the discussion continues on without him as he drifts in and out of consciousness. It is humorous to watch his eyes begin to roll and head start to nod, and others have placed bets on how long it will take before he departs into his own dream world. He has become adept at nodding his head as he awakens and has been known to feign taking notes as he suddenly stirs from his slumber. As a senior officer in the organization, it is embarrassing to me when we have people from outside the company present and he nods off. He must be worked hard at home because it is a consistent pattern of behavior, and he at times has acknowledged his problem.

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  johnhladk@...04/10/07 Report as spam
  2

  Potentoila Sleep Disorder?

  There may be medical reasons fro the consistent sleeping at meetings such as sleep Apnia. Someone could/should tell him of the apparent embarrasing situations his disorder ceates so that he may take measure to cure himself. Is'nt that what Ligfe is all about, providing help or assstance when we can?

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  trahaearn06/12/07 Report as spam
  3

  Spontaneous Fatigue

  Falling asleep during meetings is an embarrassing situation for the person involved. On my first day as a Program Manager with a new company, I fell asleep in a meeting with our customer. Fortunately I wasn't terminated that day. Everyone blamed it on not getting enough sleep or being out too late the night before. I wish one of these were true.
  
  Recently I fell asleep during a job interview. It was a very boring interview, but falling asleep made it worse. I didn't get the job - big surprise.
  
  Falling asleep in meetings and classes became the norm. I warned instructors and coworkers that it would happen and not to take offense.
  
  Later I learned that I have a serious disease that can cause an overwhelming feeling of fatigue almost instantaneously. The fatigue almost mimics Narcolepsy, but is far more complicated.
  
  Please take the person aside and discuss their situation without being confrontational. Recommend a visit to their family physician and give them the time for an appointment. Be considerate of their situation. However, if they are unwilling to work with you, consider finding a replacement.

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  dhill106/12/07 Report as spam
  4

  Sleeping in a meeting.

  A particularly funny incident occurred at a meeting in one of our midwest facilities. We had a horendous flight the previous night, arriving at our hotel at 4 am without our luggage. Our manager was giving an 8 am presentation to the team there and one of our coworkers from the corporate office began to nod. The manager just quietly said ", coffee.", Indicating that maybe he should have another cup. The coworker thought he meant to make a fresh pot, so he promptly left the room and started another pot. The event was so comical, it endeared this coworker to the team there and actually established a great working relationship!

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  RhodesD06/12/07 Report as spam
  5

  Simple Technique to Stay Awake

  When I feel sleepy and the caffeine is not doing its work, I just stand up in the back of the room for a few minutes. In large or small meetings with customers or our execs it has never been a problem.

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  richard.clarke@...06/12/07 Report as spam
  6

  falling asleep

  A few years ago during a 'social meeting' that went on and on one of my friends was sitting on a chair next to the fish tank - you guessed it, his arm slipped off the side of the tank into the water. Everyone had a great laugh and realised the meeting had become boring, the meeting ended shortly after.
  
  medical reasons aside - if people are falling asleep during meetings maybe the meetings should be made more interesting?

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  truckin.duck07/26/07 Report as spam
  7

  adrenalin

  I learned that smoking a pipe when driving a car on a long journey seemed to magically lift the veil of sleepiness, but it was not until a project in cardiac medicine that I learned that nicotine simulates adrenaline... that is what works. The muscule activity will cause small amounts of adrenaline too... the walk is a good casual way to exercise your muscles. In the automobile, I just try to pull the steering wheel "apart" or push on it... usually I get a quick jolt of relief of sleepiness. Best to find a rest area before long if a really long journey.

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  MJMac07/30/07 Report as spam
  8

  Standing to wake up

  I use the same technique, and it works every time. If anyone asks, I just say that my back is hurting a bit -- so many people have back problems, they just nod in sympathy!

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  amyryanday07/25/07 Report as spam
  9

  Falling Asleep

  I once fell asleep in one of our full staff meetings. I am not positive, but I'm pretty sure I was snoring as well. The two guys sitting behind me kept poking and nudging me awake. Finally, one of them said, in frustration "Please try to stay awake!!". I replied, helplessly, "I can't".
  
  Later, I found out that the frustrated guy was the son of our CEO, who was the one leading the meeting (talk about embarrassing). Furthermore, I found out that my boss knew, as did everyone in the company, it seemed.
  
  Needless to say, I have not attended another staff meeting since then. I did find out, within a couple of weeks, that I have Severe Sleep Apnea (not a big surprise). I am much better now, although I do still have many times that I am hard pressed to stay awake - in meetings, particularly..

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  White Shark07/25/07 Report as spam
  10

  Sleeping in a meeting

  Interesting that so many would comment to falling asleep in a meeting. I like the comment to speak privately with the person.
  
  Sleep Apnea is rampant in our society. Family members will tease and cajole us but let us off the hook. Sometimes it is an honest boss who helps us see that we have an issue that needs addressing.

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  fulletk07/25/07 Report as spam
  11

  Waking the Sleeper: The Quick-Draw Approach

  Do like one of my college professors used to do. Keep a water gun handy. A couple of inconspicuous squirts will usually bring a person back to full consciousness.
  
  At one meeting I attended, the meeting moderator asked everyone to leave the conference room quietly. Then she turned out the light and closed the door and, left the sleeper to continue his nap.

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  irene@...07/25/07 Report as spam
  12

  more than surviving

  I do a great deal of work helping clients move past conflicts in communication, and I think one of the best ways is to look upon every difficult experience as an opportunity to build one of the most critical communication and leadership skills, constructive discontent.
  
  Constructive discontent is one's ability to stay grounded in a conflict, and the ability to do this an survive a meeting nightmare also facilitates using what could be a very difficult experience to build cooperation, collaboration and among those attending the meeting. It is also an opportunity to model leadership at its best.

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  tlpaton07/26/07 Report as spam
  13

  If you disagree.....don't blow sunshine up their skirt!!

  I HATE that advice to suger coat an issue, an topic, etc by making a sandwich. Treat your people with respect, hear what they say and, if you disagree, say so. There is no reason to pad it. We're not children. If you're straight up and respectful, I guarantee you they are not going to crumble. If you agree and would like to learn more, I highly recommmend reading Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott.

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  itsmepanda08/04/07 Report as spam
  14

  The audience member who cant sit still

  What can you do (if anything) about a member of the meeting who can't sit still...is shaking his head, constantly moving around, head in his hands; then head back looking at the ceiling...
  He clearly isn't interested in what is being said. It's very distracting to the speaker...

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  enperez09/03/08 Report as spam
  15

  RE: Surviving Your Worst Meeting Nightmares

  A comment to itsmepanda, sounds like the person is doing what the others say they do to stay awake during a meeting.

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  ps.techrep@...08/18/09 Report as spam
  16

  RE: Surviving Your Worst Meeting Nightmares

  The best way to completely avoid these 'nightmares' is to conduct a meeting PROPERLY. My experience is that most meetings aren't managed; they have no formal agenda, no advance preparation is necessary for the majority of attendees, there is no obvious benefit to the attendees, and the only ones who are engaged during the meeting are the person who chairs it or the presenter. Sometimes NO ONE is actually engaged in the meeting.
  
  A properly managed meeting has the following characteristics:
  
  1. It serves a purpose and has a particular objective. "Review" meetings are worthless, unless specific failures and successes are addressed for constructive criticism or praise.
  2. The specific objectives of the meeting are known to every attendee in advance.
  3. No one is an attendee unless they are a stakeholder in achieving the objective, and preferably not unless they can directly contribute to its achievement.
  4. Attendees should have deliverable to bring to the meeting If these are status reports, they should be briefly summarized in writing.
  5. Off-agenda topics should be reserved for the end of the meeting with only the concerned parties staying.
  6. Objections should be raised politely, and should be addresses by requesting that the objection and substantiation for it be submitted in writing for consideration.
  7. Meetings should start at the time they are scheduled. NO ONE, including the CEO of a company, should ever expect to be excused for being late except for a legitimate emergency. Business tardiness is disrespectful, unprofessional, and a sign of incompetent management.
  
  Baring a medical issue, it is unlikely that someone who is an active participant and stakeholder in a productive, purposeful meeting will fall asleep.
  
  Business meetings are professional activities. All unprofessional conduct including abusive language should be subject to a zero-tolerance policy with a well-publicized process for responding to it. Persons who will not conduct themselves properly should be removed.