You're sitting in the meeting. For ten minutes now.

Two colleagues are discussing a topic that doesn't concern you. You wonder: Why am I here?

You're not alone. At least three others in the room are asking themselves the same question. But nobody says anything.

The agenda that formed without you

The meeting started. Someone had prepared topics. Or someone just started talking.

You weren't asked what your topics were. You also didn't ask if you could contribute anything.

The agenda formed without you. And now you're sitting in a meeting that isn't yours.

The trap of passivity

The real problem isn't that you were invited. The problem is that you didn't help shape the agenda.

You waited for someone else to set the topics. And then wondered why yours weren't included.

Imagine a different meeting.

It doesn't start with a finished agenda. It starts with a question: What topics do you have?

Everyone can contribute topics. You too. Then there's a vote. Which topics are most important to the group?

Suddenly you know what it's about. Not because someone told you. But because you helped decide.

After topic collection. After voting. The agenda is set.

You look at the topics. You ask yourself honestly: Can I contribute something here? Does this concern me?

If the answer is no, you have two options.

The old way: Stay. Sit silently. Waste time.

The new way: Be honest.

“I see that today's topics aren't my area. I'll read the protocol and get in touch if I have questions.”

That's not an affront. That's respect. For your time. For others' time.

A meeting with five people who all contribute something is better than one with eight where three just watch.

Sometimes the answer isn't yes or no. Sometimes it's: I want to stay informed.

“I'm just listening” is a real role. Not an excuse.

It tells the others: Don't expect input from me. I'm here to be informed.

This honesty helps everyone. The moderator knows who to address. And you can listen without pressure.

And if you leave?

Then there's the protocol. The decisions. The open points. The next steps.

In five minutes you know what happened. Without sitting in a meeting for an hour.

Maybe the next bad meeting isn't the organizer's fault.

Maybe it's the question you didn't ask. The topic you didn't contribute. The honesty you didn't allow yourself.

You can wait for someone to organize better meetings. Or you can start helping to shape them.

Contribute topics. Vote. Be honest about whether you stay. And if not: Read the protocol.

At Grounds Up you can collect topics, vote, and share your status. And the protocol is automatically there. Try it out – no setup, no registration.