This cannot have just happened to me…
It starts simply. “Let’s just get 6 people together for 2 hours.”
Famous. Last. Words.
Because the higher the numbers, the bigger the mania becomes.
First comes the polite “are you free next week?”
Then comes the silence.
You can hear the calendar screaming.
Then comes doodle poll #1 with 10 options. 2 ticks total.
Then the “that didn’t work for anyone” follow-up and doodle poll #2, now with color coding.
Then someone replies-all with 8 new dates that only work for them, their dog, and Mercury retrograde.
Then someone’s diary swings.
Then a secretary swings back with “she’s only free at 7am or 7pm.”
Then someone bows out with “so sorry, clash.”
Then someone new bows in with “can I join too? I have opinions.”
Then someone suggests “what about a quick 15 min pre-meet to plan the meeting?”
Agendas get rewritten 4 times. Version 7 is now called “Final_FINAL_v6.”
Expectations get inflated.
Hopes get dashed.
“I’m double booked.”
“I can only do 15 mins.”
“I need to slide into another meeting.”
“I’ll dial in from the car park.”
In, out, shake it all about.
After 4 weeks, 3 polls, 63 messages, and one accidental reply-all later… we finally land on a time. The stars align 💫
Everyone shows up with energy and enthusiasm.
There’s (virtual) coffee ☕️
There’s small talk 🗣
There’s 10 minutes of “is this the right room?” / “can everyone hear me?” / “who’s sharing their screen?”
And then the bravest person asks: “So… what was this 2-hour meeting about again? Did it require a meeting?”
