Technique 2: The Art of Pretending To Listen

Also known as the "nod-nod-nod" technique, this method involves pretending to pay attention while secretly playing Candy Crush on your phone.

This technique is perfect for those who want to appear engaged without actually doing any real work.

Step 1: Sit up straight and make eye contact.

1. Lean forward slightly, as if to emphasize your deep understanding of the topic.
2. Use a "uh-huh" or "I see" to feign interest.
3. Tap your pen on the table or a nearby surface to create a distracting scratching sound.

Step 2: Distract yourself with something shiny.

• Stare intensely at the speaker's tie or a nearby object.
• Make mental notes on your phone, like you're taking important meeting notes.
• Mutter something under your breath, like "interesting" or "that's so cool."

Step 3: Reiterate something meaningless.

• Paraphrase the speaker's original statement, making it sound more confusing than the original.
• Repeat the phrase "I couldn't agree more" multiple times.
• Mention that you need to "get back to you on that."

And that's it! With these simple steps, you'll be a master of the nod-nod-nod technique in no time.

Want to learn more? Visit Technique 3: The Art of Pretending To Care for more meeting-avoidance methods.

Or, for an expert-level course, check out Technique 4: The Art of Pretending To Have a Meeting To Get Out Of.