At conference to plan the consortium to help us collaborate, communicate, and leverage stuff which is more important than ever given our troubled economic situation
Really. So I’m in Tucson. Tucson is very nice, by the way. I’m at a conference which is the result of a proposal to discuss whether or not to build a consortium. At this point in the planning process, I expected that attendees would be deciding whether or not we’d build the consortium, not how we are going to build the consortium. It’s as if the prospect of just bailing on the whole thing never entered anyone’s minds. I thought of speaking up, but I don’t want to be the lone naysayer, not in this room of big wigs. Now I realize why some staff seem quiet at my meetings: they are either intimidated or feel as if speaking up is just wasted effort. I need to work harder at getting more input from more staff when I get back.
kdghty said:
Jan 13, 09 at 8:47 pmWe often yell at our meetings. I’m guessing that’s more input than anyone wants…
slack said:
Jan 13, 09 at 9:26 pmIts is wasted effort at my university. The higher ups have already made their decision and just want the decision process to agree with them.
rufusb said:
Jan 14, 09 at 11:52 amWhat’s a “decision process”?
Sukey said:
Jan 15, 09 at 2:52 pmNice to be back – haven’t commented in awhile…not apropos of anything but couldn’t resist introducing you all to the “Madonna and Child” update.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEo54elmsMg
admin said:
Jan 15, 09 at 6:00 pm@kdghty: Yelling is good! It suggests that you care. It’s when everyone is silent that you should worry.
@slack: right, it’s the “wasted effort” impression. That’s what I realized during that meeting. I mean, they asked for feedback but you just knew they weren’t going _really_ respond.
@rufusb: a decision process involves scheduling many meetings with many people and then after many hours spent in meetings having a drink with someone at a swank bar, preferably one overlooking your campus golf course, and then spitting into the wind on the terrace, looking where it lands, and heading in that direction. Then, you reconvene everyone and ask for feedback. Look at your computer and read email or check out some of Sukey’s video links while people are talking. Don’t forget to nod your head every now and then so people think you’re recording their comments. After which point, course, you never follow or communicate with anyone.
Sukey: thanks for sharing. And yes, it is apropos of nothing; however, I recently saw “I’m going to tell you a secret” and those impressions are spot on, even if the Lourdes impression is, well, mean. Girlfriend needs some tweezers!