How To Even…Survive a Business Meeting

By Michael Gushue & CL Bledsoe

There are times in a person’s life when they are called upon to face seemingly insurmountable odds, like when a bear attacks you or you have to answer a phone call. In these moments, a person discovers not only their true mettle but also what kind of box office potential their life might really have. Sure, some of these things can be avoided. Don’t use a honey-infused facial scrub and then wander in bear-infested woods. Let it go to voicemail which is conveniently full. But sometimes, no matter how careful you are, you become trapped in a deadly scenario, and there are few more life-threatening than the business meeting.

Business meetings, on the surface, seem benign. It’s just a bunch of people sitting in a room, theoretically taking turns talking. There has never been a business meeting that wouldn’t have been better as an email. This is something we all know, but it doesn’t help us, because meetings aren’t about disseminating information or solving problems or anything useful. Fundamentally, they are a way for executives to look busy. But beneath that beige exterior lies a beating heart of pure terror and bad stuff.

Why are they so dangerous?

The obvious danger of the business meeting is the time suck. Consider that every moment of our lives is irretrievable. We…