Photo:
Getty
There they go again! The team bloviator is filling the meeting room with hot air, wowing and confusing people all in the same breath. You know the person I’m talking about, and you know the phenomenon too.
And what about this scenario: You’re in a meeting with someone for the first time, and your initial reaction to their almost-fantastical claims and assertions is wide-eyed amazement — for the first couple of minutes, that is. After a while, the switch flips to tentative skepticism. Eventually, you think, “This is pure BS.”
In both instances, you’re listening, reading faces in the room and wondering — at first, at least — if you’re the only one who thinks this is complete BS. You’re a reasonably minded person, though, and you’re experienced and knowledgeable. You trust yourself. Before too long, you know this is BS.
What next? What do you do? Something? Anything? Nothing?
All of the above are legitimate choices. In fact, doing nothing is probably the most common choice in these situations. However, time is precious, and our patience is running thin for wasteful, unproductive and/or tedious meetings. So, how do you cut to the chase when your BS meter is going off?
If you’re in a leadership position and find yourself in meetings with the occasional BS artist, here are three tips for cutting to the chase and saving your (and everyone else’s) sanity:
First, thank the BS artist for their input, and bring everyone back to square one, which is the goal or point of the meeting. The reason all meetings should have a stated goal — a desired outcome — is so that diverters, hijackers and bloviators can be shut down politely. A simple “Hey, that sounds pretty amazing, but we still have to discuss Project Z and arrive at a consensus about the timetable,” can refocus everyone and limit the slinging of BS.
Second, for those of you with the moxie to be even subtly confrontational, feel free to react proportionately yet quickly springboard to dismissing or moving on. For example, “Wow, that’s hard to believe, but we can certainly check it out,” and then assign someone to check it out. Or, “Wow, you seem to be pretty passionate/confident. Let’s transfer that energy into getting through the timetable for Project Z.” Or perhaps, “That doesn’t sound 100% right to me, but I’m open to everyone discussing it once we get through our agenda.” Or just, “Hey, that’s great for you! Not sure we can all relate or see it that way, but it’s interesting.”
Third (but arguably could be first), throw it to your audience. On the theory that you want all meetings to engage your audiences and hold their attention, there’s certainly no need to shoulder the responsibility by yourself. Turn to the rest of the room and ask, “What do we all think of Ashley’s input?” Or, “How does everyone feel about what Ashley just offered?” If we’re wanting to be audience-centric at all times, let’s let the group manage the BS. I have a lot of faith in groups of professionals to deal efficiently and effectively with unwelcome tall tales, overpromises, falsehoods or exaggerations.
At the end of the day, there’s no need — or time — to suffer fools lightly. Feel free to call them out, dismiss them or redirect the conversation. Take heart: It’s not you. You’re not alone. BS is BS, and in 2020, when authenticity is king, everyone’s BS meter is particularly sensitive. You’ll do yourself and your colleagues a favor by moving things along.
