Why I Hate Meetings After The Meeting!

            I’m going to be very transparent here and talk about my disappointment in how I handled a particular situation not too long ago. I HATE “meetings AFTER the meeting.” We are all familiar with these. A group, usually of disgruntled members, veer off on their own to talk about everything they hated about the meeting AFTER it happened. Instead of speaking up when they should have, showing more professionalism, or asking the right questions, they wait to talk about it when nothing they discuss can truly make a difference. I hate these type of “meetings” because nothing ever gets accomplished and it becomes a complaint-fest complete with insults, accusations and gossip.

                Not too long ago, I found myself in one of these. I should have stuck to my guns and never have taken the bait in the first place. However, I did and I’m disappointed in myself and the lack of leadership it showed. I’m honestly ashamed to admit how much time I actually spent involved in this “meeting after the meeting”. Just know that it was over an hour. That’s an hour+ that could have been spent doing something more productive. Once this “meeting” was over, I thought, “Why did I just waste my time with that?” “Was anything productive accomplished?”

               At any given moment, I could have suggested we end the conversation all together or at the very least, I could have removed myself from it. I did not present an attitude of Leadership. An attitude and act of positive LEADERSHIP would have been to say, “Hey everyone, I don’t do “meetings after the meeting” because nothing really gets accomplished. How about you bring up your concerns the next time we meet and let’s work it out from there?”

                  I could have better influenced the attitude of the conversation by being brave enough to suggest alternatives and walk away. Lesson learned – Attitude reflects Leadership!

What does your Leadership attitude say about you??

— Dr. April

Dr. Carmen April’s Speaker Series

This post is part of a series on Leadership presented by Dr. Carmen April. She is a young entrepreneur and community leader recognized as a 2013 Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under Forty Award Recipient and is currently a 2014 New Leaders Council Fellow – Nashville Chapter.  Dr. April is available for speaking engagements on Entrepreneurship for college students and young professionals.