Mixing
No topics left in a meeting with a customer
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I'm a software developer. We (our CEO, our project manager and me) currently had a two day project meeting with a client (their CEO, their project manager and two power users).
On the second day the project managers and CEOs had to discuss some organizational stuff, where the user and I were not needed. So they proposed that we do some hands-on testing to improve usability details.
They thought that the meeting of the managers would take about one and a half hours, but in the end took three hours.
The hands-on was really productive and helpful for the user and me for about two hours, but then we ran out of topics. So we three were sitting in front of my PC for an hour, mostly in uncomfortable silence. We started talking about things like holidays and so on.I did not limit myself to any fixed schedule or topic. We covered issues in the current test version of the product, all questions I had regarding the next phase and additional features for current and upcoming parts. There were no topics left I could think of. But as neither me nor them are big small-talkers this felt really awkward.
How could I've handled the situation, what do you do in similar situations?
meetings
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I'm a software developer. We (our CEO, our project manager and me) currently had a two day project meeting with a client (their CEO, their project manager and two power users).
On the second day the project managers and CEOs had to discuss some organizational stuff, where the user and I were not needed. So they proposed that we do some hands-on testing to improve usability details.
They thought that the meeting of the managers would take about one and a half hours, but in the end took three hours.
The hands-on was really productive and helpful for the user and me for about two hours, but then we ran out of topics. So we three were sitting in front of my PC for an hour, mostly in uncomfortable silence. We started talking about things like holidays and so on.I did not limit myself to any fixed schedule or topic. We covered issues in the current test version of the product, all questions I had regarding the next phase and additional features for current and upcoming parts. There were no topics left I could think of. But as neither me nor them are big small-talkers this felt really awkward.
How could I've handled the situation, what do you do in similar situations?
meetings
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
3
Grab a lunch with them?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 7 '16 at 9:27
3
So why didn't you just wrap up? Did you honestly both just sit there? Anyway, there are a million things you could have done. VTC.
– Lilienthal♦
Jul 7 '16 at 9:34
The meeting was in the morning. For lunch we went to a restaurant with the whole team, and the regular project meeting continued in the afternoon. So grabbing lunch or warping up were no options.
– raznagul
Jul 7 '16 at 9:49
9
Suggest to take a break and walk around. When there is uncomfortable silence in a long meeting it may mean that you just needed to get out of the meeting room for a few minutes. After you come back you'll probably remember something else that needed to be discussed.
– Brandin
Jul 7 '16 at 9:53
Agreed with Brandin! A two hour meeting can be draining, especially if it's productive (but then you don't notice the drain). Get out, do something else. :-)
– Peter K.
Jul 7 '16 at 13:55
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I'm a software developer. We (our CEO, our project manager and me) currently had a two day project meeting with a client (their CEO, their project manager and two power users).
On the second day the project managers and CEOs had to discuss some organizational stuff, where the user and I were not needed. So they proposed that we do some hands-on testing to improve usability details.
They thought that the meeting of the managers would take about one and a half hours, but in the end took three hours.
The hands-on was really productive and helpful for the user and me for about two hours, but then we ran out of topics. So we three were sitting in front of my PC for an hour, mostly in uncomfortable silence. We started talking about things like holidays and so on.I did not limit myself to any fixed schedule or topic. We covered issues in the current test version of the product, all questions I had regarding the next phase and additional features for current and upcoming parts. There were no topics left I could think of. But as neither me nor them are big small-talkers this felt really awkward.
How could I've handled the situation, what do you do in similar situations?
meetings
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
I'm a software developer. We (our CEO, our project manager and me) currently had a two day project meeting with a client (their CEO, their project manager and two power users).
On the second day the project managers and CEOs had to discuss some organizational stuff, where the user and I were not needed. So they proposed that we do some hands-on testing to improve usability details.
They thought that the meeting of the managers would take about one and a half hours, but in the end took three hours.
The hands-on was really productive and helpful for the user and me for about two hours, but then we ran out of topics. So we three were sitting in front of my PC for an hour, mostly in uncomfortable silence. We started talking about things like holidays and so on.I did not limit myself to any fixed schedule or topic. We covered issues in the current test version of the product, all questions I had regarding the next phase and additional features for current and upcoming parts. There were no topics left I could think of. But as neither me nor them are big small-talkers this felt really awkward.
How could I've handled the situation, what do you do in similar situations?
meetings
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
edited Jul 12 '16 at 19:53
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.7k1397187
43.7k1397187
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
asked Jul 7 '16 at 9:25
raznagul
678249
678249
3
Grab a lunch with them?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 7 '16 at 9:27
3
So why didn't you just wrap up? Did you honestly both just sit there? Anyway, there are a million things you could have done. VTC.
– Lilienthal♦
Jul 7 '16 at 9:34
The meeting was in the morning. For lunch we went to a restaurant with the whole team, and the regular project meeting continued in the afternoon. So grabbing lunch or warping up were no options.
– raznagul
Jul 7 '16 at 9:49
9
Suggest to take a break and walk around. When there is uncomfortable silence in a long meeting it may mean that you just needed to get out of the meeting room for a few minutes. After you come back you'll probably remember something else that needed to be discussed.
– Brandin
Jul 7 '16 at 9:53
Agreed with Brandin! A two hour meeting can be draining, especially if it's productive (but then you don't notice the drain). Get out, do something else. :-)
– Peter K.
Jul 7 '16 at 13:55
suggest improvements |Â
3
Grab a lunch with them?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 7 '16 at 9:27
3
So why didn't you just wrap up? Did you honestly both just sit there? Anyway, there are a million things you could have done. VTC.
– Lilienthal♦
Jul 7 '16 at 9:34
The meeting was in the morning. For lunch we went to a restaurant with the whole team, and the regular project meeting continued in the afternoon. So grabbing lunch or warping up were no options.
– raznagul
Jul 7 '16 at 9:49
9
Suggest to take a break and walk around. When there is uncomfortable silence in a long meeting it may mean that you just needed to get out of the meeting room for a few minutes. After you come back you'll probably remember something else that needed to be discussed.
– Brandin
Jul 7 '16 at 9:53
Agreed with Brandin! A two hour meeting can be draining, especially if it's productive (but then you don't notice the drain). Get out, do something else. :-)
– Peter K.
Jul 7 '16 at 13:55
3
3
Grab a lunch with them?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 7 '16 at 9:27
Grab a lunch with them?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 7 '16 at 9:27
3
3
So why didn't you just wrap up? Did you honestly both just sit there? Anyway, there are a million things you could have done. VTC.
– Lilienthal♦
Jul 7 '16 at 9:34
So why didn't you just wrap up? Did you honestly both just sit there? Anyway, there are a million things you could have done. VTC.
– Lilienthal♦
Jul 7 '16 at 9:34
The meeting was in the morning. For lunch we went to a restaurant with the whole team, and the regular project meeting continued in the afternoon. So grabbing lunch or warping up were no options.
– raznagul
Jul 7 '16 at 9:49
The meeting was in the morning. For lunch we went to a restaurant with the whole team, and the regular project meeting continued in the afternoon. So grabbing lunch or warping up were no options.
– raznagul
Jul 7 '16 at 9:49
9
9
Suggest to take a break and walk around. When there is uncomfortable silence in a long meeting it may mean that you just needed to get out of the meeting room for a few minutes. After you come back you'll probably remember something else that needed to be discussed.
– Brandin
Jul 7 '16 at 9:53
Suggest to take a break and walk around. When there is uncomfortable silence in a long meeting it may mean that you just needed to get out of the meeting room for a few minutes. After you come back you'll probably remember something else that needed to be discussed.
– Brandin
Jul 7 '16 at 9:53
Agreed with Brandin! A two hour meeting can be draining, especially if it's productive (but then you don't notice the drain). Get out, do something else. :-)
– Peter K.
Jul 7 '16 at 13:55
Agreed with Brandin! A two hour meeting can be draining, especially if it's productive (but then you don't notice the drain). Get out, do something else. :-)
– Peter K.
Jul 7 '16 at 13:55
suggest improvements |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
In addition to the comments above, you are now finding out that small talk is a useful skill.
I suggest picking one or two safe topics - not religion or politics - and practice getting into conversations about them with friends and colleagues until doing so no longer feels at all uncomfortable.
I'm English, so for me the weather is the default small talk subject. The weather has to do something that can be discussed. If it is neither too hot nor too cold, too wet nor too dry, talk about how nice it is. It either prevents or permits taking a walk outside the building, which fits in nicely with taking a short walk-around break.
Of course, any time you think of something to tell or ask the users about the product, switch back to that. The objective of the small talk is to free up your mind to find other relevant material to discuss.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
1
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Since you had a firm fixed lunch time and a gap that needed to be filled, see if there are any topics you planned on discussing that afternoon or later in other meetings that could be discussed then. If you could not because critical attendees were in the other meeting then do a preview of what will be covered in the afternoon. If you can move even some of the discussion that would result from the afternoon topics/meetings to that morning it would help mitigate other portions of the day running long or could result in the last meeting ending early, and who does not like meetings that end early?
If you have absolutely nothing to fill it with, then as Brandin said in the comments take a break.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Since as you said, the first two hours were productive it is clear that there would be subjects adjacent to what you covered that could have been discussed. For example you could have discussed some other aspects of the product that the user may have found interesting such as design tradeoffs that you had to make. Similarly you could have asked the user what other features they would like to see in the product.
I have to say that you will go a lot further in what you do if you can stretch yourself beyond what the CEO and project managers told you to do. The situation was only awkward because you let it be so.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Outside of cultivating the ability to do small talk as was mentioned, you can also spend some time reviewing what you did and the findings that you made. Taking some time to sum up and make sure everyone is on the same page is usually time well spent.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
2
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
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up vote
1
down vote
"It looks like we're done early, so unless there's something you'd like to bring up I'll close up now and return the remaining time for you to to other things with. See you (whenever the next meeting is)!"
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
suggest improvements |Â
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
In addition to the comments above, you are now finding out that small talk is a useful skill.
I suggest picking one or two safe topics - not religion or politics - and practice getting into conversations about them with friends and colleagues until doing so no longer feels at all uncomfortable.
I'm English, so for me the weather is the default small talk subject. The weather has to do something that can be discussed. If it is neither too hot nor too cold, too wet nor too dry, talk about how nice it is. It either prevents or permits taking a walk outside the building, which fits in nicely with taking a short walk-around break.
Of course, any time you think of something to tell or ask the users about the product, switch back to that. The objective of the small talk is to free up your mind to find other relevant material to discuss.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
1
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
In addition to the comments above, you are now finding out that small talk is a useful skill.
I suggest picking one or two safe topics - not religion or politics - and practice getting into conversations about them with friends and colleagues until doing so no longer feels at all uncomfortable.
I'm English, so for me the weather is the default small talk subject. The weather has to do something that can be discussed. If it is neither too hot nor too cold, too wet nor too dry, talk about how nice it is. It either prevents or permits taking a walk outside the building, which fits in nicely with taking a short walk-around break.
Of course, any time you think of something to tell or ask the users about the product, switch back to that. The objective of the small talk is to free up your mind to find other relevant material to discuss.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
1
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
In addition to the comments above, you are now finding out that small talk is a useful skill.
I suggest picking one or two safe topics - not religion or politics - and practice getting into conversations about them with friends and colleagues until doing so no longer feels at all uncomfortable.
I'm English, so for me the weather is the default small talk subject. The weather has to do something that can be discussed. If it is neither too hot nor too cold, too wet nor too dry, talk about how nice it is. It either prevents or permits taking a walk outside the building, which fits in nicely with taking a short walk-around break.
Of course, any time you think of something to tell or ask the users about the product, switch back to that. The objective of the small talk is to free up your mind to find other relevant material to discuss.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
In addition to the comments above, you are now finding out that small talk is a useful skill.
I suggest picking one or two safe topics - not religion or politics - and practice getting into conversations about them with friends and colleagues until doing so no longer feels at all uncomfortable.
I'm English, so for me the weather is the default small talk subject. The weather has to do something that can be discussed. If it is neither too hot nor too cold, too wet nor too dry, talk about how nice it is. It either prevents or permits taking a walk outside the building, which fits in nicely with taking a short walk-around break.
Of course, any time you think of something to tell or ask the users about the product, switch back to that. The objective of the small talk is to free up your mind to find other relevant material to discuss.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:59
Patricia Shanahan
16.2k53256
16.2k53256
1
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
suggest improvements |Â
1
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
1
1
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
"Who do you like for the next pope?" Uncomfortable small talk, religion, and politics all rolled into one.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:37
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Or alternatively "What do you think about the separation of state and church?" :) But if all the guys are developers, why not talk about some "new" languages or frameworks?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 8 '16 at 7:31
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
Can English people honestly talk about the weather beyond "It's very hot outside lately and my sweating makes me feel exasperated!", "Indeed! I dislike the heat!", "So we all agree." ?
– Traubenfuchs
Jul 8 '16 at 9:47
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
@Traubenfuchs "It was not quite so hot yesterday.", "But the day before was even worse.", "Do you think it will get better next week?"...
– Patricia Shanahan
Jul 8 '16 at 11:07
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Since you had a firm fixed lunch time and a gap that needed to be filled, see if there are any topics you planned on discussing that afternoon or later in other meetings that could be discussed then. If you could not because critical attendees were in the other meeting then do a preview of what will be covered in the afternoon. If you can move even some of the discussion that would result from the afternoon topics/meetings to that morning it would help mitigate other portions of the day running long or could result in the last meeting ending early, and who does not like meetings that end early?
If you have absolutely nothing to fill it with, then as Brandin said in the comments take a break.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Since you had a firm fixed lunch time and a gap that needed to be filled, see if there are any topics you planned on discussing that afternoon or later in other meetings that could be discussed then. If you could not because critical attendees were in the other meeting then do a preview of what will be covered in the afternoon. If you can move even some of the discussion that would result from the afternoon topics/meetings to that morning it would help mitigate other portions of the day running long or could result in the last meeting ending early, and who does not like meetings that end early?
If you have absolutely nothing to fill it with, then as Brandin said in the comments take a break.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Since you had a firm fixed lunch time and a gap that needed to be filled, see if there are any topics you planned on discussing that afternoon or later in other meetings that could be discussed then. If you could not because critical attendees were in the other meeting then do a preview of what will be covered in the afternoon. If you can move even some of the discussion that would result from the afternoon topics/meetings to that morning it would help mitigate other portions of the day running long or could result in the last meeting ending early, and who does not like meetings that end early?
If you have absolutely nothing to fill it with, then as Brandin said in the comments take a break.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
Since you had a firm fixed lunch time and a gap that needed to be filled, see if there are any topics you planned on discussing that afternoon or later in other meetings that could be discussed then. If you could not because critical attendees were in the other meeting then do a preview of what will be covered in the afternoon. If you can move even some of the discussion that would result from the afternoon topics/meetings to that morning it would help mitigate other portions of the day running long or could result in the last meeting ending early, and who does not like meetings that end early?
If you have absolutely nothing to fill it with, then as Brandin said in the comments take a break.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
edited Jul 7 '16 at 20:22
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
answered Jul 7 '16 at 10:14
Anketam
3,75321134
3,75321134
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
suggest improvements |Â
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
I don't think this is a great idea if CEOs on both sides are scheduled to be in the afternoon session. "Don't worry boss(es) we covered this without you this morning!" may not go over well.
– Myles
Jul 7 '16 at 19:34
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
@Myles Oh good point, I missed that part. I will update my answer with a caviot
– Anketam
Jul 7 '16 at 20:09
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Since as you said, the first two hours were productive it is clear that there would be subjects adjacent to what you covered that could have been discussed. For example you could have discussed some other aspects of the product that the user may have found interesting such as design tradeoffs that you had to make. Similarly you could have asked the user what other features they would like to see in the product.
I have to say that you will go a lot further in what you do if you can stretch yourself beyond what the CEO and project managers told you to do. The situation was only awkward because you let it be so.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Since as you said, the first two hours were productive it is clear that there would be subjects adjacent to what you covered that could have been discussed. For example you could have discussed some other aspects of the product that the user may have found interesting such as design tradeoffs that you had to make. Similarly you could have asked the user what other features they would like to see in the product.
I have to say that you will go a lot further in what you do if you can stretch yourself beyond what the CEO and project managers told you to do. The situation was only awkward because you let it be so.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Since as you said, the first two hours were productive it is clear that there would be subjects adjacent to what you covered that could have been discussed. For example you could have discussed some other aspects of the product that the user may have found interesting such as design tradeoffs that you had to make. Similarly you could have asked the user what other features they would like to see in the product.
I have to say that you will go a lot further in what you do if you can stretch yourself beyond what the CEO and project managers told you to do. The situation was only awkward because you let it be so.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
Since as you said, the first two hours were productive it is clear that there would be subjects adjacent to what you covered that could have been discussed. For example you could have discussed some other aspects of the product that the user may have found interesting such as design tradeoffs that you had to make. Similarly you could have asked the user what other features they would like to see in the product.
I have to say that you will go a lot further in what you do if you can stretch yourself beyond what the CEO and project managers told you to do. The situation was only awkward because you let it be so.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
answered Jul 7 '16 at 11:11
Michael Karas
1,7581611
1,7581611
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Outside of cultivating the ability to do small talk as was mentioned, you can also spend some time reviewing what you did and the findings that you made. Taking some time to sum up and make sure everyone is on the same page is usually time well spent.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
2
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Outside of cultivating the ability to do small talk as was mentioned, you can also spend some time reviewing what you did and the findings that you made. Taking some time to sum up and make sure everyone is on the same page is usually time well spent.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
2
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Outside of cultivating the ability to do small talk as was mentioned, you can also spend some time reviewing what you did and the findings that you made. Taking some time to sum up and make sure everyone is on the same page is usually time well spent.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
Outside of cultivating the ability to do small talk as was mentioned, you can also spend some time reviewing what you did and the findings that you made. Taking some time to sum up and make sure everyone is on the same page is usually time well spent.
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
answered Jul 7 '16 at 13:26
JasonJ
6,47041334
6,47041334
2
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
suggest improvements |Â
2
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
2
2
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
You could even have used that time to produce a document with what you learned.
– HLGEM
Jul 7 '16 at 16:56
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
"It looks like we're done early, so unless there's something you'd like to bring up I'll close up now and return the remaining time for you to to other things with. See you (whenever the next meeting is)!"
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
"It looks like we're done early, so unless there's something you'd like to bring up I'll close up now and return the remaining time for you to to other things with. See you (whenever the next meeting is)!"
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
"It looks like we're done early, so unless there's something you'd like to bring up I'll close up now and return the remaining time for you to to other things with. See you (whenever the next meeting is)!"
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
"It looks like we're done early, so unless there's something you'd like to bring up I'll close up now and return the remaining time for you to to other things with. See you (whenever the next meeting is)!"
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
answered Jul 7 '16 at 21:01
keshlam
41.5k1267144
41.5k1267144
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
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3
Grab a lunch with them?
– Juha Untinen
Jul 7 '16 at 9:27
3
So why didn't you just wrap up? Did you honestly both just sit there? Anyway, there are a million things you could have done. VTC.
– Lilienthal♦
Jul 7 '16 at 9:34
The meeting was in the morning. For lunch we went to a restaurant with the whole team, and the regular project meeting continued in the afternoon. So grabbing lunch or warping up were no options.
– raznagul
Jul 7 '16 at 9:49
9
Suggest to take a break and walk around. When there is uncomfortable silence in a long meeting it may mean that you just needed to get out of the meeting room for a few minutes. After you come back you'll probably remember something else that needed to be discussed.
– Brandin
Jul 7 '16 at 9:53
Agreed with Brandin! A two hour meeting can be draining, especially if it's productive (but then you don't notice the drain). Get out, do something else. :-)
– Peter K.
Jul 7 '16 at 13:55