[sdevonoes]

There was a time when I used to say "What? Another pointless meeting? Oh c'mon that just distracts me from working on features/writing code!". I don't say that anymore. I'm fine with useless meetings because:

- it's work time. I don't really mind how I spend my working hours. It's 8h and no more (well, with WFH, it's more like 5h or so, but the point stands)

- if the meeting is pointless, I just disconnect. So, the meeting is actually like a break for me. I grab a coffee and let it go

- if I have too many pointless meetings that do not let me do "my job" (but remember, pointless meetings are your job as well!), well let it be. In the standup of the next day I will clearly state: "I spent 2h attending meeting X". If someone asks "why aren't your Jira issues done on time?", I just answer "Oh, I was working on something else (meeting X)".

So, pointless meetings are actually not bad. Just keep your soul free of noise, work (code) when you have time for it.

[xondono]

I’m not going to tell you how to live your life, but IMO, if you are at work just clocking your 8h, you should consider switching.

Also, if you think you are attending too many useless meetings, it’s your responsibility to let them (or at least your direct report) know. They might not be aware that you aren’t needed.

[sdevonoes]

> I’m not going to tell you how to live your life, but IMO, if you are at work just clocking your 8h, you should consider switching.

Fair point. I don't think I'm at work to "just clock my 8h". I actually enjoy what I do most of the time; it's just that I don't fight anymore against, imho, pointless company bureaucracy. But above all, my philosophy is: work is work; sometimes it's enjoyable, sometimes it's not.

> Also, if you think you are attending too many useless meetings, it’s your responsibility to let them (or at least your direct report) know. They might not be aware that you aren’t needed.

Sure; I never said "don't give feedback". I was just assuming the scenario in which pointless meetings are "inevitable" for whatever reason and we have to come up with (although I know it's a joke) apps like the one we see here in this post.

[stronglikedan]

> I don't really mind how I spend my working hours.

Must be nice to not have hard deadlines while on salary.

[sdevonoes]

I don't get it. If I don't deliver on time whatever I must deliver because of external reasons (e.g., you're slacking, you don't really communicate well with others, you don't have a solid understanding of some tech concepts, etc.) then sure, it's "my fault" (although, it's more like the "team's fault" because is the whole team the one that delivers stuff, but this is another topic). And I understand if I don't get salary raises/promotions.

But if the reason I don't get a salary raise is because I don't deliver on time because I am working on other company-related stuff (i.e., attending meetings) then either: a) I didn't communicate this clearly to my manager ("hey, I spent a significantly portion of my time on meetings") or b) the company thinks meetings "is not work".

So, if it's "a)", it's my fault; but if it's "b)" then I probably already quit (who wants to work in such a company?)

[ipnon]

This is an emergent property of social organizations over a certain size, say the Dunbar number, I claim. The organization has its own eye, and cannot look in all directions at once. Some of its members will be able to hide.