Fester List Urgency Misnomer

I've had a few discussions this past month about meeting etiquette. Sparked by a reveal from the Airbnb boss. Irked 'underlings surreptitiously glance at their screens while he was being an Inspiring Thought Leader' [thanks, Harry Wallop]. Yet caught tapping away on his own phone instead of being present at events himself.

Do-as-I-say-not-what-I-do management hypocrisy is nothing new. What was of perhaps more interest to us, is how this came about. An internal "fester list" of all the little things holding them back at work.

Aside from wondering how this exercise could improve how we work with a client, there's the famed 4-box 2x2 on task guidance. Variously attributed to all sorts, mainly that little menace, Napoleon. It offers priorities to enhance your productivity. Known for its Importance versus Urgency determinant of timeliness.

The former assuming greater ranking than the latter. Also leading to variants of the festina lente, 'rush slowly' cornerstone.

The ever-readable journalist above gives this another slant. Understand where gatherings are supposedly 'important' against how 'useful' meetings are. After all, isn't every meeting important?

Once mobiles were everywhere, I remember meetings with 'all phones on stun' edicts. That single beep signifying a call or text. Things soon moved on. From Blackberries through those first apps and now, any and all you need 'data' as well as what you don't permanently 'on'. Distractions a constant background murmur.

Meaningless 'catch-ups' don't cut it. Here's his wonderful citation from author of The Crazy Busy Curse;

"If a meeting is relevant and well run then people won’t be distracted by their phones, pets, doodles, or anything else".

Surely each meeting with a prospect has its purpose. One explicit to our attendees. We may well have our own 'sub' aims. Establish rapport, gain hunting licence, nail unique(s). But without being useful for the other party, why would they be there? Let alone appreciate it. Amplified over video for sure.

A key to winning deals is that our meetings are considered by our potential customer as the most valuable.

Such value can emanate from how useful, progressing, engaging, different, anticipated it is compared to any others on the topic.

So how you keep participants - you included - from gazing at phones is critical.

The useful lens here makes for a decent start. Are you on it?