A letter writer wonders how to tell colleagues to stop monopolizing meetings.
I’ve recently been surprised at the cluelessness of some colleagues, who will talk ad nauseam during meetings, offering little that is new or insightful. They chime in on every issue and talk for far too long. I once clocked a colleague’s monologue at 10 minutes without a break — during a 50-minute meeting!This seems to be a particular issue in remote meetings; I suspect that the lack of nonverbal cues in a physical space is the problem.
Do I have a pet? Do I exercise? Is there some machinery I am running? No, to all of these. I am sure any noise isn’t from me: My apartment is fully carpeted, I remove my shoes when I come home, and I am scrupulous about playing TV and music at an appropriate level.Still, I apologize and gently point out that in a large building such as ours, sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of a sound. But it doesn’t seem to get through. I dread running into this person.
“I’m so sorry there are noises bothering you,” you can say. “I can’t see how they could be coming from me, as my home is fully carpeted . Would it be worth checking if the noise is from an air vent or something similar? Is there anything I can do to help you locate the source?” Miss Manners will understand if you omit the final offer in all the din.What does one do with sprigs of mint that have been used as garnish in a beverage?in your hair, however great the temptation or strong the drink.
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