Meetings Are Toxic

• Posted by Wasim
• In Speaking Out

Binarian Studios is a company that often lives, works and plays via the Internet and often our meetings take place here as well.

Whether its via an instant messaging application, a video conference or a Citrix live meeting where computer desktops are shared in real time, it is often to avoid The Toxic Meeting.

Here's a quote from Douglas Coupland, infamous Canadian fiction writer, playwright and visual artist. He is well known for coining the term "Generation X" and for exploration of cultural shifts created by the impact of new technologies on middle class North American culture.

"Here’s my theory about meetings and life; the three things you can’t fake are erections, competence and creativity. That’s why meetings become toxic...they put uncreative people in a situation in which they have to be something they can never be. And the more effort they put into concealing their inabilities, the more toxic the meeting becomes. One of the most common creativity-faking tactics is when someone puts their hands in prayer position and conceals their mouth while they nod at you and say, “Mmmmmm. Interesting.” If pressed, they’ll add, “I’ll have to get back to you on that.” Then they don’t say anything else."

Douglas is not alone. There is a whole school of thought around this, but my favorite is the following which can be seen here. This is a chapter from the book "Getting Real" from Web 2.0 innovators 37Signals about why meetings can be toxic if not handled properly. 37Signals consist of 7 individuals (each from different countries) who collaborated together to design, develop and market Basecamp, one of the best pieces of collaborative software ever made, of which Binarian Studios is 1 out of 500,000+ subscribed companies.

A great read for anyone looking to stay productive sans meetings.

Meetings are Toxic.