Donna Highfill
  • Home
  • About
    • About Donna
    • What People Are Saying
    • My Other Blogs
      • Dame Nation Blog
      • Huffington Post
  • Services
    • Power Up BUSINESS
    • Coaching
  • Books and Tools
  • Blog
    • Fave Products
  • Contact Me

Corporate Meetings for Zombies

AndrewBlog1 commentJuly 5, 2011

I’m on a conference call, listening to the dread in each person’s voice as they “sign on.” This is supposed to be a call about a new change initiative, and everyone should be fired up. Instead, it sounds like they are the living dead, and need to have their head removed with a quick blow to put them out of their misery.

The meeting begins, and it sounds something like this:

“This is the beginning of our weekly meetings concerning the XYZ initiative. Before we get started, let me conduct a roll call. (A boring roll call of fifteen people begins, with people answering in zombie-like voices saying, “HERE.” There’s always the one funny person who says, “PRESENT.” Suddenly, the leader realizes somebody is missing).

Wait, I didn’t hear from Bill. Bill, are you on the line? Anybody know where Bill is? (This results in a 5 minute delay as somebody tracks down poor Bill who was probably in the restroom).

Bill, are you on now?

Yes, I’m here. (Bill sounds prematurely bored and humiliated at the same time).

Great, now let’s get started. Did everybody read the (extremely boring) ten page document I sent out prior to this meeting (prior, meaning one hour before the meeting started. Dead silence as everyone does work on their computer with their phones on mute).

Well, I’m going to assume you did since I requested it (now everybody’s stumbling through emails trying to find the document. Once found, they will read it while the lead zombie drones on).

In the document, I asked that you consider how you can best contribute to this change initiative Wait, I just heard a beep, has somebody else joined us? (No comment, which panics meeting leaders for some reason – perhaps there is a lurker on the line from another area). I heard another beep, did somebody just join?

(Finally, a reluctant zombie responds). Yea, this is John. Sorry. I keep losing the signal. Sorry.

No problem (this said after the frantic demand that he reveal himself). Before we get started, some of you couldn’t print the spreadsheet. Did anybody else have this issue?(A discussion of the printing issue ensues for about 15 minutes).

Anybody else wonder why there is a dread of these meetings? And how are they supposed to create energy and clarity for a change?

Next blog, I’ll discuss ways to create a more dynamic meeting, and I’d love to have your thoughts. If you’d like help create my blog for next week, answer this question for me:

What actions do you think help people avoid these zombie-like conference calls?

Tags: change management, Change Stories, donna highfill, featured, highfill performance group, meetings

Related Articles

3 Things Wilson the Volleyball Teaches Us About Change

September 14, 2012Andrew

Why Change? Because You Deserve to be Tucked In!

July 14, 2011Andrew

Valuing Our Time

October 16, 2015Donna Highfill

1 comment. Leave new

The Land of Mediocrity- A Corporate Fable | Highfill Performance Group
June 19, 2012 9:10 am

[…] The queen called her knights to join her at the round table in her conference room for yet another meeting. […]

Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn How to Tell a Better Story and Achieve Success!

Sign up below to receive 48 FREE Energizing Messages.

Connect with Me

Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Recent Posts

  • A Cab Driver Who Appeared as if from Nowhere
  • Here’s Some Honesty For You
  • Laughter is My Hero
  • A New Year in Old Clothes
  • Why I Will Face the Fall

CHECK OUT MY BOOK

highfillcover

As a leader, do you implement change only to watch the projects, processes and initiatives stall because you can’t get the people driving them to change? In my new book Real People, Real Change: Stories of a Change Warrior in the Business World I share real stories to illustrate how leaders can move people to action.

Archives

Where Donna Will Be Speaking Next

  • April 22, 2015 - SunTrust Women's Networking Group
  • April 23, 2015 - SunTrust Women's Networking Group
  • May 12, 2015 - LPGA Championship, Kingsmill, Williamsburg VA
  • May 21, 2015 - Education Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eerie, PA

Certified_hi-res

mbti_certified
huffbadge

Learn How to Tell a Better Story and Achieve Success!

Sign up below to receive 48 FREE Energizing Messages.

Recent Posts

  • A Cab Driver Who Appeared as if from Nowhere August 9, 2017
  • Here’s Some Honesty For You March 16, 2017
  • Laughter is My Hero January 10, 2017

Contact Me

804-370-6665
[email protected]
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • About Donna
  • Contact Me
Copyright Donna Highfill 2014