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US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, would tend to doze off in a meeting. He's not the only one. So, is there anything to stop those eyelids from suddenly feeling so heavy?
The drowsiness caused by meetings – this happens to the best of us.
Former Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Dick Cheney; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich; Judges Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court are famous faces who made the headlines for being caught off guard during their speeches and meetings.
Mr. Ross is the latest politician to have been criticized for his inability to "stop falling asleep at meetings" in his department, according to Politico. But his staff denied that his concentration was so erratic that long meetings were avoided.
So, how can you avoid the tempting attraction of sleep at your next meeting – and how could you keep everyone awake the next time you have to run one?
1. The right moment …
Elise Keith, founder of Lucid Meetings, a US-based meetings coaching company, said that although time preferences may vary from one individual to the next, research indicates that certain periods may to be better at achieving certain goals.
"Things like status updates and logical thinking – you want to do them earlier in the morning," she says. When impressing people is important – such as status updates, sales demos, interviews – in the morning, "when sharpness and enthusiasm are at their peak", it's best.
"Closer to the end of the day, it's really a good time for brainstorming … because the energy you had in the morning started to fade," she says. . "People relax, which is also what you want when you try to spark cool ideas."
And of course, never make meetings in the "dead zone" – just after lunch.
- Why I hate meetings – and how to improve them
Judi James, an author and UK-based workplace culture specialist, says however that the exact time "matters less than we think" and that it is more important to ensure that that a meeting has an end time clearly indicated.
"We often fall asleep in meetings because of boredom, not fatigue."
2. … and in the right place
Some sessions need to be held where work can be done, but meetings in unconventional venues can help stimulate creativity.
Permanent meetings – where, as their name indicates, participants discuss without sitting – have also been hailed by many experts in efficiency for their effectiveness.
Ms. Keith suggests walking in meetings or outdoor spaces for more creative sessions.
3. Be prepared
"The kind of meeting that lets people fall asleep is where they probably should not be there in the first place … or where other people talk to them," Keith said.
"Have a clear idea of the meeting and a plan to achieve the results of this meeting, which will then allow you to invite only those involved."
A recent study found that American workers estimated on average that only 33% of leaders were well prepared for meetings. And most managers, Ms. Keith notes, can spend 80% of their time in a meeting without having ever been trained to conduct it.
Ensuring a clear agenda is a common advice of productivity gurus.
Annette Catino, executive and entrepreneur in the health sector, told the New York Times that the agenda was essential: "because if I do not know why we're at the meeting, and you do not know why we are here, because of the meeting ".
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"One of the ways people stay awake is that they participate in a meeting that interests and relates to their work."
And if you are not sure who should be there? Make optional meetings and see who's showing, suggests Keith.
* If you're still with us, it may be a good time to pause.
4. Stay alert all day
Ms. James recommends getting up from your desk every half hour or stretching and invigorating yourself throughout the day.
And while companies such as Google, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and online retailer Zappos offer employees space to close their eyes throughout the work day, James warns that "Powerful siestas do not always help you to see work place as a place of sleep".
- How to take a nap at work
- How long does the ideal nap last?
5. To nibble or not to nibble?
While Ms. James suggests refusing hot drinks or high-carbohydrate snacks before a meeting, if you're drowsy, Keith says the right kind of snacks can help improve meeting culture.
Snacks can keep people alert for one thing, but are also a "symbol of compbadion" in many cultures.
"Why not include this in your meetings, why not show people who are cared for, who they belong to, their well-being is something that matters to you?"
Obviously, it is important to avoid noisy or smelly snacks, as well as taking into account dietary restrictions of the participants.
6. Sincerely
In simple terms, you can not fall asleep if you participate.
"Talk for the first three minutes," recommends Ms. James. "It makes your voice heard in the room and makes you feel like a contributor and not a listener."
Ms. James also suggests making active contributions to body language – "bow your head, use eye contact and nonverbal responses to what you hear".
Taking notes can also be helpful in keeping your brain alert.
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"If the meeting is dragging on, do the note taker, look for the key points, the decisions that seem to have been made, but no one is clear," Keith said.
"Raise your hand, intervene, make sure they're called in. You can help other people to be heard and ask questions."
For executives, Ms. James said: make sure to stick to the agenda and only the agenda – to tackle "other issues", did she warns, corresponds to "when trouble begins".
7. Fidget away
When all else fails, keeping your hands busy can help you.
Ms. Keith's favorite tool is a pipe cleaner – simple and quiet, although a bit strange.
Doodling is another long-standing contact for crazy bored meetings, but Ms. James says that can make you even more sleepy.
Sometimes it can just pinch your arm, she adds.
And if you happen to fall asleep?
Ladies James and Keith agree that if you fall asleep, it may be better to leave.
"Make a quick excuse that does not sound like an attack, and if possible, get up gently, excuse yourself and go away," recommends Ms. James. And if you notice a colleague going away, only wake him up if you are friends.
And after such a meeting, Ms. Keith insists on the importance of making honest comments.
"If you sleep because the meeting is so poorly planned, so disorganized and a big waste of time, then it's a huge waste of investment for your business and the main cause of employee disengagement." She says.
"It's the kind of thing that makes people quit."
Report by Ritu Prasad
Here is a selection of your comments:
Whenever I feel that I start to doze in meetings, I immediately imagine my biggest fear, which for me is to be trapped in the rubble after an earthquake. The adrenaline rush wakes me up immediately. Paul Ketley, New Jersey, United States
Old Lawyer Tactic – Lift a foot off the ground and you can not fall asleep. Works also while driving. Dan Todd, Tennessee, United States
Eat salty Chinese plums. Really make you sit down and take note. Judith Clark, Mbadachusetts, United States
I find that drinking sips of water helps. Also chew gum. I find it impossible to sleep while chewing! Andrew Halley, Cambridge, United Kingdom
My motto on the meeting is: limited and short time. The staff only has two minutes or less to talk and I ask for landmarks … It only remains for him to report an exceptional problem, not what he does in the frame from his job … Finally, staying in a small group is the most productive way to go. Deputy Chief Das, Bamako, Mali
If that happens, I always say "amen" when I wake up so I can say that I was praying and I was not sleeping. Grant H, Idaho, USA
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