SURVEY SAYS: How Do You Miss a Meeting?

This week I asked readers to share the most creative excuse – er, reason – that they had given (or been given) for missing a meeting.

“Unfortunately, I’m scrupulously honest, so I can’t lie to get out of a meeting,” was the sentiment of more than one respondent this week.   “Therefore, my response to the survey is that I’m anxious to read others’ responses tomorrow in hopes that I get some good ideas for myself!”

Some of course, were “victims” of their own importance.   “Unfortunately, when I have a semi-legitimate excuse, someone thoughtfully suggests that we ‘reschedule’ instead of forging on without me,” said one.

Needless to say, this is the kind of question that defies ready tabulation.   Still, I grouped this week’s varied (and entertaining) responses into five basic categories:

32% – “You won’t believe what happened (while I was out doing other things),”

23% – “I’ve got too much other (‘real’) work to do,”

18% – “I’ve got another (more important) meeting,”

12% – “I’ve got a previous commitment outside the office,”

10% – “I’ve recently contracted some ailment that makes my participation impossible/inconvenient.”

There was this “kin.ky” excuse:   ” The most creative excuse that I have ever received for missing a meeting was from a man who was getting ready to come to a meeting directly from a corporate fitness center.   The man had very curly, kinky hair, and he used a round hot curling brush to tame it down.   Apparently, he rolled too much hair around the brush, and the brush was stuck to his hair/head.   He had to have it cut out and could not make the meeting!”  

Stranger than Fiction

And one that proved that truth can be stranger than fiction:   “‘We were out getting lattes, and we were hit by a truck.’   This one was actually true!   They were out getting lattes and their car was hit by a truck, driven by a guy with a suspended license, who didn’t want them to call the police.   They did; and while waiting for the cops to arrive, he had his girlfriend who was in the passenger seat slide over to the driver’s side and pretend she had been driving.   Needless to say, they spent a lot of time at the scene talking to the police.”

“Yes, with all of our whining about equality, the glass ceiling, and mommy tracking, I’ve dishonored my gender by pulling the girl card and faking cramps,” admitted one respondent.  “Men have simply been trained to accept the excuse without question, which makes it an easy out.”

While feigning ailments that couldn’t be readily verified was a popular choice, there was at least one case where – “When I went to check on an employee who missed our staff meeting, I swear the employee dumped some water on the front of his pants and said, ‘I had a little accident so I didn’t think I should be there.'”

There was at least one great entry in the “Are you talking to me?” category: “When you said all staff, I didn’t know that you were talking about me too.” 

Still in the outside of the office commitment category, the most creative had to be: “My cat has diarrhea.”

But this week’s Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said, “I once had a service provider cancel a meeting because his spouse was going to be ovulating and he needed to be home.   My first thought was that this was way too much information.   My second thought was that this was not that different from the type of service he had been providing my organization for quite some time.”

Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey!

The best way is to establish a conflicting meeting or important event or issue.

I went out for breakfast prior to the meeting and I had to send my bacon back twice because it wasn't crisp and my eggs were runny.....

I once had a service provider cancel a meeting because his spouse was going to be ovulating and he needed to be home.   My first thought was that this was way too much information.   My second thought was that this was not that different from the type of service he had been providing my organization for quite some time.

I ducked out of a 2 hour marketing meeting w finance and administration to develop an account retention strategy for a current client. Instead, I went directly to the client's office, asked him what he liked/disliked about our service, agreed to a change to our pricing model, and suggested a custom service model better aligned with their corporate demographics.

Upon returning to the office I summarized the solutions and sent all for approval to individuals who went to the meeting. Not sure what they discussed, but the end result seemed to work out okay?

The most creative reason I've used, and a true one, was that I would be out of the office, photographing race cars (one of my hobbies).

Unfortunately, when I have a semi-legitimate excuse, someone thoughtfully suggests that we 'reschedule' instead of forging on without me.

The most creative excuse that I have ever received for missing a meeting was from a man who was getting ready to come to a meeting directly from a corporate fitness center.   The man had very curly, kinky hair and he used a round hot curling brush to tame it down.   Apparently he rolled to much   hair around the brush and the brush was stuck to his hair/head.   He had to have it cut out and could not make the meeting!    I still laugh about this.  

Too much year end work.

Funny you should ask this question today since I had my review yesterday (surprisingly good) and I mentioned that we needed to make our meetings more interesting.   However, our meetings are required, so no excuse can be used other that severe illness, death or a natural disaster.

Unfortunately, I haven't had any good excuses, but my sister and her manager have had a couple of good excuses for not attending meetings.

Her manager always used to use the vague excuse of "I have a show."   No one knew what that meant (he worked for a non-profit agency) nor did he get challenged on it.  

My sister usually used "When you said all staff, I didn't know that you were talking about me too."  

But the best one she and a co-worker used was, "We were out getting lattes and we were hit by a truck."   This one was actually true!   They were out getting lattes and their car was hit by a truck, driven by a guy with a suspended license, who didn't want them to call the police.   They did and while waiting for the cops to arrive, he had his girlfriend who was in the passenger seat slide over to the driver's side and pretend she had been driving.   Needless to say, they spent a lot of time at the scene talking to the police.

Yes with all of our whining about equality, the glass ceiling, and mommy tracking, I've dishonored my gender by pulling the girl card and faking cramps.   Men have simply been trained to accept the excuse without question which makes it an easy out.

"I'm working on a special project for (our CEO)."

The most creative excuse--When I went to check on an employee who missed our staff meeting I swear the employee dumped some water on the front of his pants and says I had a little accident so I didn't think I should be there.

A professor once said there are two things unavoidable in life: death and taxes. I've heard both as excuses for meeting avoidance and departures, especially around April 15th. I'd argue meetings are the third unavoidable occurrence in life.  

A physical malady that is difficult to argue with, such as "I have a migraine" or "I pulled a hammy".

Unfortunately, I'm scrupulously honest so I can't lie to get out of a meeting. Therefore, my response to the survey is that I'm anxious to read others' responses tomorrow in hopes that I get some good ideas for myself!

Most creative excuse?   "My cat has diarrhea."

There was the time I was asked if I was ready for the meeting (starting immediately) and I just said "No."   It was maybe the only time I was not creative.

Recently given from an officer in the company:  "I didn't want to be late and walk in with the Vice Presidents."