An ineffective meeting – questions
1. [Multiple choice]
The person chairing the meeting was kept waiting.
Answers for Quiz [1].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
2. [Multiple choice]
There were several latecomers to the meeting.
(The very person who was supposed to be running the meeting was the more serious latecomer to it. Although several others had already arrived before him, the man in red on the right arrived in time for the chairwoman’s arrival, but not actually on time for the meeting which should already have begun. The others have obviously been sitting there for about 10 minutes.
We sometimes use the word ‘chair’ to mean the chairperson. The word chairman is far more common than chairwoman, and we are sensitive about assuming the chairperson will be male. We avoid this by saying ‘ the chair’ or ‘the chairperson’.)
Answers for Quiz [2].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
3. [Multiple choice]
The meeting began clearly.
Answers for Quiz [3].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
3. [Multiple choice]
Everyone arrived on time apart from the chair.
(The man in red on the right arrived in time for the chairwoman’s arrival, but not actually on time. The others have obviously been sitting there for about 10 minutes.
We sometimes use the word ‘chair’ to mean the chairperson. The word chairman is far more common than chairwoman, and we are sensitive about assuming the chairperson will be male. We avoid this by saying ‘the chair’ or ‘the chairperson’.)
Answers for Quiz [3].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
4. [Multiple choice]
The chairperson referred to as ‘she’ always arrives late.
(Last time they had a meeting she ‘had them waiting for 30 minutes’.)
Answers for Quiz [4].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
5. [Multiple choice]
They didn’t discuss any relevant business at all last time they met.
(The chairperson did not keep the previous meeting focussed. Apparently she talked all about her trip to Mexico.
)
Answers for Quiz [5].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
6. [Multiple choice]
Once the chairwoman arrived the meeting got off to a clear start.
Answers for Quiz [6].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
7. [Multiple choice]
Everyone’s spirits lift on the arrival of the person chairing the staff meeting.
(There is some immediate irritability evident. There are four main causes of irritation here – firstly, the fact that the boss is late, secondly that she walks in talking on her mobile, still keeping the others waiting, thirdly that she subjects them to some irrelevant personal details that have nothing to do with the meeting, and fourthly, she has clearly not noticed that ‘everyone is tired of her saying ‘¡Hola!’ Someone has just commented that the chairwoman has overdone her greeting of ¡Hola! since her trip to Mexico, and the woman walks in saying ¡Hola!)
Answers for Quiz [7].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
8. [Multiple choice]
Which of the terms below can be heard that indicate that people’s patience has worn thin with this greeting in Spanish?
Answers for Quiz [8].
- 1. fed up with
- 2. tired of (correct)
- 3. irritates everyone
- 4. gets on everyone’s nerves
- 5. is starting to get to me
9. [Multiple choice]
Did you also hear any of the following that hint at irritation at someone’s behaviour?
Answers for Quiz [9].
- 1. irks me (correct)
- 2. isn’t funny any more
- 3. irritates some of us
- 4. really grates on my nerves
- 5. is really annoying
10. [Multiple choice]
The woman in charge is very clear about the main aims of the staff meeting.
(She asks someone to remind her why they are meeting. This has the air of someone who has not spent any time at all preparing for the meeting.)
Answers for Quiz [10].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
11. [Multiple choice]
The woman on the far left seems to have some good ideas.
Answers for Quiz [11].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
12. [Multiple choice]
The agenda which Megan has drawn up could have helped to keep the meeting on track.
(A man makes the point that a agenda would be useful, so it could have done, but the chairwoman dismisses it, saying she had not asked Megan to draw up an agenda – ‘I don’t do agendas when I’m in charge’, despite the fact that the boss does not have a better tack (= approach). She says it is ‘not up to Megan’ to draw up an agenda – i.e. it is not her responsibility, and that she, the chairperson, had not asked her to. It seems a pity that the boss acts as if useful ideas and ways of proceeding can only come from her, especially as she offers no ideas herself and is poor at running this meeting.)
Answers for Quiz [12].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
13. [Multiple choice]
Edwin makes a point aside which he then changes when challenged by the chairwoman.
(He points out that the chairperson hadn’t even remembered what they were meeting to talk about, but then changes what he says and says he wonders if she would like to go out for lunch. It is clear that Edwin does not have the courage of his convictions – he is brave enough to make an aside, but not brave enough to state clearly what his objection to how the meeting is proceeding is.
To make an aside – to say something out of earshot, so only heard by some people, not all.
Sometimes people running meetings ask those present to address their comments to the chair, or to the group. This happens if people start to have parallel conversations so that the focus of interest is lost.)
Answers for Quiz [13].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
14. [Multiple choice]
The men in the meeting are clearly frustrated at the fact that they have put a lot of work in but can made no headway with their ideas.
(It is Megan, on the far left, who seems to be the hardest worker of the group, as she has drawn up an agenda and followed up several points in preparation for the meeting, but she gets nowhere.
To make little headway on / with sth – to make little progress on sth.)
Answers for Quiz [14].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
15. [Multiple choice]
Several of the people in the meeting make points which might be very valid, but they do not ensure they are audible, which detracts from their usefulness.
(It is so important to speak up in meetings so that people can actually hear what is being discussed. It is so difficult to discuss something you haven’t quite heard, isn’t it? It can also be embarrassing having to ask people to repeat what they have said because of lack of clarity.
To speak up – to speak loudly enough for people to be able to hear you. Eg ‘May I ask you all to speak up a bit? Steve is finding it difficult to catch what you are saying. Thank you!’
To speak up also means to say what you wanted or needed to say at an appropriate time so that your point or opinion could be heard and taken into account. Eg ‘I thought all along that an 8 o’clock start was unrealistic.’ “Then why didn’t you speak up?” i.e. If you had actually expressed this opinion we could have changed our plan, and that would have been better. “He should have spoken up earlier and let us know he could not work at the clinic over the summer.”)
Answers for Quiz [15].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
16. [Multiple choice]
Someone comments that their meetings are always pointless.
Answers for Quiz [16].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
17. [Multiple choice]
Megan complains that the chairwoman has not even listened to what she (Megan) had to say.
Answers for Quiz [17].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
18. [Multiple choice]
The two men head off for lunch with their boss.
(To head off (for) somewhere – to go in the direction of somewhere. Eg ‘After this ‘phone call I’m going to head off home.’)
Answers for Quiz [18].
- 1. True
- 2. False (correct)
19. [Multiple choice]
It is not the first time the three women have ended up trying to make progress after a meeting that
(We hear the phrase ‘it’s just us again, ladies’, so this has happened before. It is bad practice to create this sort of resentment in staff, isn’t it?)
Answers for Quiz [19].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False
20. [Multiple choice]
The boss has demonstrated how to make people feel completely ignored and unappreciated.
(She obviously has some hardworking people in her team, but she does not show any sign of valuing them. Having arrived late, and unprepared, she has dismissed others’ contributions, has sabotaged everything that has been attempted or done, and then the chairwoman walks out taking a phone call on her mobile. The fact that she accepts an invitation to lunch on her mobile as she leaves emphasises the fact that she seems to have time for the wrong things, but little time for important ones.)
Answers for Quiz [20].
- 1. True (correct)
- 2. False