Comments on: The Right Way to Cancel a Meeting http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/ Entrepreneur turned VC Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jan Schultink http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-8876 Jan Schultink Tue, 18 May 2010 23:22:03 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-8876 As I am working with more and more people long distance (my fault: I am based in Tel Aviv), I become more and more convinced that face to face meetings are not essential (99% of the time). But it requires a mindset change (that is easier to make when you are separated by the Atlantic Ocean).<br><br>Professionally, this is great: increased productivity and increased reach.<br>Socially, it is not all good news. Humans are designed to socialize, rather than sitting behind your desk on your own and be really productive. As I am working with more and more people long distance (my fault: I am based in Tel Aviv), I become more and more convinced that face to face meetings are not essential (99% of the time). But it requires a mindset change (that is easier to make when you are separated by the Atlantic Ocean).

Professionally, this is great: increased productivity and increased reach.
Socially, it is not all good news. Humans are designed to socialize, rather than sitting behind your desk on your own and be really productive.

]]> By: Jan Schultink http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-7399 Jan Schultink Tue, 18 May 2010 23:22:03 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-7399 As I am working with more and more people long distance (my fault: I am based in Tel Aviv), I become more and more convinced that face to face meetings are not essential (99% of the time). But it requires a mindset change (that is easier to make when you are separated by the Atlantic Ocean).<br><br>Professionally, this is great: increased productivity and increased reach.<br>Socially, it is not all good news. Humans are designed to socialize, rather than sitting behind your desk on your own and be really productive. As I am working with more and more people long distance (my fault: I am based in Tel Aviv), I become more and more convinced that face to face meetings are not essential (99% of the time). But it requires a mindset change (that is easier to make when you are separated by the Atlantic Ocean).

Professionally, this is great: increased productivity and increased reach.
Socially, it is not all good news. Humans are designed to socialize, rather than sitting behind your desk on your own and be really productive.

]]> By: lisahjorten http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-8877 lisahjorten Tue, 18 May 2010 22:50:57 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-8877 Great post and it actually made me feel pretty good about the way I have dealt with meeting changes so far. Another good topic would be how to conduct yourself in a meeting from a time-perspective. I frequently meet with VC's on a number of topics and have found that you can count on exactly a one-hour time slot unless otherwise agreed in advance. The most effective and thoughtful plan is to start wrapping up at the 40 minute mark, leaving 10-15 minutes for general discussion and a nice break for your meeting host before they rush off to their next one. Great post and it actually made me feel pretty good about the way I have dealt with meeting changes so far. Another good topic would be how to conduct yourself in a meeting from a time-perspective. I frequently meet with VC's on a number of topics and have found that you can count on exactly a one-hour time slot unless otherwise agreed in advance. The most effective and thoughtful plan is to start wrapping up at the 40 minute mark, leaving 10-15 minutes for general discussion and a nice break for your meeting host before they rush off to their next one.

]]> By: lisahjorten http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-7398 lisahjorten Tue, 18 May 2010 22:50:57 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-7398 Great post and it actually made me feel pretty good about the way I have dealt with meeting changes so far. Another good topic would be how to conduct yourself in a meeting from a time-perspective. I frequently meet with VC's on a number of topics and have found that you can count on exactly a one-hour time slot unless otherwise agreed in advance. The most effective and thoughtful plan is to start wrapping up at the 40 minute mark, leaving 10-15 minutes for general discussion and a nice break for your meeting host before they rush off to their next one. Great post and it actually made me feel pretty good about the way I have dealt with meeting changes so far. Another good topic would be how to conduct yourself in a meeting from a time-perspective. I frequently meet with VC's on a number of topics and have found that you can count on exactly a one-hour time slot unless otherwise agreed in advance. The most effective and thoughtful plan is to start wrapping up at the 40 minute mark, leaving 10-15 minutes for general discussion and a nice break for your meeting host before they rush off to their next one.

]]> By: Mike Schinkel http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-8878 Mike Schinkel Tue, 18 May 2010 22:40:43 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-8878 Wow, I can totally relate to this! <br><br>I recently had someone very well known in your industry agree to present at my startup group's monthly meeting but he wanted it to be during the day so I rescheduled the venue and started promoting the attendance of a "very special" guest. Two weeks before the meeting which would have probably had 100 people attend he cancelled and asked to reschedule. Fortunately I never named him but our normal venue was booked for our normal evening event and so not only did I loose credibility among our local startup community I also lost the ability to run our normal monthly meeting since it didn't make sense to come up with a different "day" meeting on short notice. <br><br>I guess deep down I feared this because I didn't name him, but still. His assistant was very anxious to reschedule but once bitten, twice shy. Wow, I can totally relate to this!

I recently had someone very well known in your industry agree to present at my startup group's monthly meeting but he wanted it to be during the day so I rescheduled the venue and started promoting the attendance of a “very special” guest. Two weeks before the meeting which would have probably had 100 people attend he cancelled and asked to reschedule. Fortunately I never named him but our normal venue was booked for our normal evening event and so not only did I loose credibility among our local startup community I also lost the ability to run our normal monthly meeting since it didn't make sense to come up with a different “day” meeting on short notice.

I guess deep down I feared this because I didn't name him, but still. His assistant was very anxious to reschedule but once bitten, twice shy.

]]> By: Mike Schinkel http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-7397 Mike Schinkel Tue, 18 May 2010 22:40:43 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-7397 Wow, I can totally relate to this! <br><br>I recently had someone very well known in your industry agree to present at my startup group's monthly meeting but he wanted it to be during the day so I rescheduled the venue and started promoting the attendance of a "very special" guest. Two weeks before the meeting which would have probably had 100 people attend he cancelled and asked to reschedule. Fortunately I never named him but our normal venue was booked for our normal evening event and so not only did I loose credibility among our local startup community I also lost the ability to run our normal monthly meeting since it didn't make sense to come up with a different "day" meeting on short notice. <br><br>I guess deep down I feared this because I didn't name him, but still. His assistant was very anxious to reschedule but once bitten, twice shy. Wow, I can totally relate to this!

I recently had someone very well known in your industry agree to present at my startup group's monthly meeting but he wanted it to be during the day so I rescheduled the venue and started promoting the attendance of a “very special” guest. Two weeks before the meeting which would have probably had 100 people attend he cancelled and asked to reschedule. Fortunately I never named him but our normal venue was booked for our normal evening event and so not only did I loose credibility among our local startup community I also lost the ability to run our normal monthly meeting since it didn't make sense to come up with a different “day” meeting on short notice.

I guess deep down I feared this because I didn't name him, but still. His assistant was very anxious to reschedule but once bitten, twice shy.

]]> By: nemra http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-8879 nemra Tue, 18 May 2010 22:12:45 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-8879 What a kind VC you are :) If I would need to shift the meeting, I would feel that at least I need to apologize and try to compensate with something. If meeting was cancelled, the dinner is the least "return". Its a matter of respect and doesn't depend on how close you were to the meeting day when you need to write a direct email or give a call... What a kind VC you are :) If I would need to shift the meeting, I would feel that at least I need to apologize and try to compensate with something. If meeting was cancelled, the dinner is the least “return”. Its a matter of respect and doesn't depend on how close you were to the meeting day when you need to write a direct email or give a call…

]]> By: nemra http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-7396 nemra Tue, 18 May 2010 22:12:45 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-7396 What a kind VC you are :) If I would need to shift the meeting, I would feel that at least I need to apologize and try to compensate with something. If meeting was cancelled, the dinner is the least "return". Its a matter of respect and doesn't depend on how close you were to the meeting day when you need to write a direct email or give a call... What a kind VC you are :) If I would need to shift the meeting, I would feel that at least I need to apologize and try to compensate with something. If meeting was cancelled, the dinner is the least “return”. Its a matter of respect and doesn't depend on how close you were to the meeting day when you need to write a direct email or give a call…

]]> By: Kay Ballard http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-8880 Kay Ballard Tue, 18 May 2010 17:12:43 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-8880 Mark, this is a fabulous post. I wish everyone played by your rules! Mark, this is a fabulous post. I wish everyone played by your rules!

]]> By: Kay Ballard http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/16/the-right-way-to-cancel-a-meeting/comment-page-2/#comment-7395 Kay Ballard Tue, 18 May 2010 17:12:43 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2666#comment-7395 Mark, this is a fabulous post. I wish everyone played by your rules! Mark, this is a fabulous post. I wish everyone played by your rules!

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