How to Know Nobody Wanted This Meeting

Some meetings are wanted. People arrive with energy, contribute ideas, and leave feeling like the time was well spent. These meetings exist.

Other meetings are attended because declining felt worse than going. Here is how to identify which kind you are in.

Before the meeting starts

• The invite was accepted by everyone, but nobody has replied with any questions or preparation notes
• The organizer sent a reminder because they were worried nobody would show up
• At least two people have already asked "is this still happening?" in a chat message
• The agenda was attached thirty minutes before the meeting
• The meeting was rescheduled twice before it finally happened

In the first five minutes

• Three people join late and apologize without explanation
• The organizer says "let's give it another minute" twice
• Someone asks "can you send the agenda again?" even though it was in the invite
• The first thing said is "so, um, thanks for joining"
• Two people have their cameras off and have not spoken

During the meeting

• Questions are met with silence long enough that the organizer answers their own question
• Someone says "that's a great point" to a statement that was not a point
• The chat is completely empty
• Someone asks "sorry, can you repeat that?" about something that was clearly audible
• The meeting ends early because there is nothing left to say, but nobody acknowledges this directly

What to do about it

If you are an attendee: contribute something specific. Ask a real question. Offer a concrete observation. Even an unwanted meeting can produce something useful if someone decides to make it useful.

If you are the organizer: acknowledge it. "I know this one is a bit of a check-in — let's make it quick and useful" is more honest than pretending the meeting has momentum it does not have. People respect honesty about time.

Read next

→ How to Tell If a Meeting Has an Objective

→ How to Escape a Meeting Without Starting a New One