Adjournment Protocol
When a meeting has reached its natural conclusion, but the participants are too afraid to leave or have forgotten what they're doing there, the Adjournment Protocol is invoked. This is a carefully crafted set of procedures designed to extract as much time as possible from the attendees while avoiding any actual work or decisions.
Step 1: Pretend to be interested
- Nod your head and make supportive noises
- Akshewal (a gentle, non-threatening gesture of agreement)
- Talk about the weather (or your weekend)
Step 2: Stall for Time
- Check your watch (or phone) repeatedly
- Stress the importance of being punctual, while secretly hoping to run out the clock
- Ask for a break, citing a pressing engagement (or a sudden, unexplained case of the Mondays)
Step 3: Declare Victory (or Defeat)
Adjournment Protocol - A Guide to Doing Nothing
Adjournment Protocol - A Guide to Doing Nothing
When a meeting has reached its natural conclusion, but the participants are too afraid to leave or have forgotten what they're doing there, the Adjournment Protocol is invoked. This is a carefully crafted set of procedures designed to extract as much time as possible from the attendees while avoiding any actual work or decisions.
Step 1: Pretend to be interested
- Nod your head and make supportive noises
- Akshewal (a gentle, non-threatening gesture)
- Talk about the weather (or your weekend)
Step 2: Stall for Time
- Check your watch (or phone) repeatedly
- Stress the importance of being punctual, while secretly hoping to run out the clock
- Ask for a break, citing a pressing engagement (or a sudden, unexplained case of the Mondays)
Step 3: Declare Victory (or Defeat)
With a flourish, declare that the meeting has reached its natural conclusion, and the participants are free to leave. Or, if things haven't gone as planned, declare defeat and schedule another meeting for "just one more thing".
Bailout Plan: How to Get Out of the Meeting Without Actually Leaving
Adjournment Protocol - A Guide to Doing Nothing
When a meeting has reached its natural conclusion, but the participants are too afraid to leave or have forgotten what they're doing there, the Adjournment Protocol is invoked. This is a carefully crafted set of procedures designed to extract as much time as possible from the attendees while avoiding any actual work or decisions.
Step 1: Pretend to be interested
- Nod your head and make supportive noises
- Akshewal (a gentle, non-threatening gesture)
- Talk about the weather (or your weekend)
Step 2: Stall for Time
- Check your watch (or phone) repeatedly
- Stress the importance of being punctual, while secretly hoping to run out the clock
- Ask for a break, citing a pressing engagement (or a sudden, unexplained case of the Mondays)
Step 3: Declare Victory (or Defeat)
With a flourish, declare that the meeting has reached its natural conclusion, and the participants are free to leave. Or, if things haven't gone as planned, declare defeat and schedule another meeting for "just one more thing".
Bailout Plan: How to Get Out of the Meeting Without Actually Leaving