Shut up and make meetings better

Pretty much everyone hates meetings. That's because so many meetings are hateful. There are a lot of things that make them that way, and at the top of the list is people talk too much in meetings.

Right? Well here's something that'll give you pause: Maybe one of the motormouths who's making the meeting into a torture chamber is you.

It's worth considering, and a place to start is the Chief Happiness Officer blog post, Five simple ways to STFU in meetings. Those five ways are:

1. Put your hand over your mouth -- literally. It'll help you stay quiet.
   
2. Ask some great questions -- encourage others to talk.
   
3. Keep track of how often you blab.
   
4. Notice how you feel when you're quiet
   
5. Ask yourself a simple question: "Is what I’m about to say something I need to say or something the other participants need to hear?"
   

Meetings go better when there's more listening than talking. That's something each of us can all help bring about.

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