Mediation 101: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

A comprehensive guide to not being an awful person in meetings.

Pre-Meeting Prep

  1. Arrive early, with a spare battery for your phone.
  2. Bring a water bottle, but not too much, or you'll be the office weirdo.
  3. Don't eat the leftover pizza from last week.

Meeting Etiquette

Don't check your email, or you'll be that guy. Don't take calls, or you'll be that guy again.
Listen actively, but not too actively, or you'll get lost in the weeds. Don't nod off, or you'll be that guy once more.

De-escalation Techniques

When things get heated, try:

  1. Taking a deep breath, but not too deep, or you'll pass out.
  2. Counting to ten, but not too fast, or you'll get stuck on 5.
  3. Remembering the time you accidentally superglued your shoes to the floor in 3rd grade.

Post-Meeting Protocol

After the meeting, do not:

  1. Nod at anyone who didn't nod at you.
  2. Apologize for not having a better idea.
  3. Ask for a raise, or you'll be that guy.

For more advanced techniques, click here

For a list of things to never say in a meeting, click here