Check Out Our Shop
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 107

Thread: Using Quotes in a Meeting

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    975

    Using Quotes in a Meeting

    Background...just moved into a new role leading an org that has been struggling past 24 months. Having a coming to Jesus meeting with them around accountability, culture and growth.

    Question to the collective...is it lame to use a few quotes from famous leaders that really apply to the situation we’re in to help deliver a message or would it resonate?

    I’d like to think if it applies, even if it’s a bit kitschy, then go ahead but feel it can also come across as a bit forced/ contrived.

    Way over thinking it but isn’t that want the PR is for...end of fucking rant.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    17,751
    It's not a best man speech. Sit down with them and give them the honest truth in your own words. They'll appreciate it. You can save the quotes for later when they know you better.

    "timberridge is terminally vapid" -- a fortune cookie in Yueyang

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    Posts
    12,122
    Play them the Glengarry Glen Ross speech and anyone who doesn't get it you can fire.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    TennesseeJed
    Posts
    10,988
    "I don't pretend to have all the answers, and I think there's something to be said for that" -One For The Road

    Brain dead and made of money.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    5,531
    Most employees really buy in to a meeting when you use lots of buzz words, phrases, and jargon.

    Use as many as you can. It only impresses them even more.

    I suggest starting with something like this:

    At the end of the day we should reconsider baking into our work all buzzwords, but I know bandwidth is a challenge. We need more bench strength to allocate resources to build a straw man for a new approach and create a dead on burning platform that our change agents can drive across the change network.
    Quote Originally Posted by XXX-er View Post
    the situation strikes me as WAY too much drama at this point

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Missoula DMV
    Posts
    1,657
    Considering how insufferable an office meeting can get, I'd say you don't need them.

    From my experience, sitting down for a presentation by a superior/rep and having the first slide be some banal & cliché quote really lowers my expectations. It rarely adds anything to the meeting, can be cringey, and generally is a poor way to break the ice with people who've been dragged away from their desks.

    Quotes can be powerful additions, but only when used sparingly and with proper-delivery/timing. For this type of meeting, honest-speak is what you need. Your coworkers/underlings will appreciate that vs. the standard run-of-the-mill meeting bullshit.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,935
    Quote Originally Posted by dtown View Post
    Having a coming to Jesus meeting with them around accountability, culture and growth.
    I wouldn't quote Jesus in a business meeting if I were you.

    Unless you're a priest.
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    5,531
    Or something like:

    As Bertrand Russell once said, "The only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation." I think we can all appreciate the relevance of that now.
    Quote Originally Posted by XXX-er View Post
    the situation strikes me as WAY too much drama at this point

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Your Mom's House
    Posts
    8,430

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    SE Idaho
    Posts
    2,164
    Quote Originally Posted by dtown View Post
    Background...just moved into a new role leading an org that has been struggling past 24 months. Having a coming to Jesus meeting with them around accountability, culture and growth.

    Question to the collective...is it lame to use a few quotes from famous leaders that really apply to the situation we’re in to help deliver a message or would it resonate?

    I’d like to think if it applies, even if it’s a bit kitschy, then go ahead but feel it can also come across as a bit forced/ contrived.

    Way over thinking it but isn’t that want the PR is for...end of fucking rant.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    I think if you are leading an organization and have to ask this question on a ski forum, they "may" have hired the wrong person. Just sayin.....

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,935
    Quote Originally Posted by reckless toboggan View Post

    Bertrand Russell .
    Him of the teapot?

    Will probably piss off any bible bashers in your meeting quoting a famous Agnostic.
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Bottom feeding
    Posts
    11,725
    Maybe a super short anecdote to start the group meeting off, but thats it. Get to the point.
    I became a VP, taking over for my former boss, and I met with my main subordinate, the head of marketing, and I started with:
    "So...how was it working for a homophobic racist all those years?"
    We were great from then on.
    Well maybe I'm the faggot America
    I'm not a part of a redneck agenda

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    YetiMan
    Posts
    13,371
    The less it seems like a performance the better.

    Make notes of the topics you want to be sure you cover, then cover them. No need to script it any further or get fancy with the quotes.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    YetiMan
    Posts
    13,371
    Quote Originally Posted by 3PinGrin View Post
    I think if you are leading an organization and have to ask this question on a ski forum, they "may" have hired the wrong person. Just sayin.....
    oh come on....fake it till you make it.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,935
    Quote Originally Posted by mall walker View Post

    if you're reaching for churchill
    Make sure there are no Indians.

    Or Germans.

    Or Irish.
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Looking down
    Posts
    50,490
    Churchill is big these days. Carry on!

    Sent from my SM-G900V using TGR Forums mobile app

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    The Mayonnaisium
    Posts
    11,005
    Definitely use the word synergies.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Not Brooklyn
    Posts
    8,495
    Quote Originally Posted by PNWbrit View Post
    Will probably piss off any bible bashers in your meeting quoting a famous Agnostic.
    Then he should quote Pope Urban II:

    "All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested?"

    This is how I open most meetings. Make sure you recite the quote while brandishing a dagger (preferably bejeweled) for maximum impact.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Central OR
    Posts
    5,966
    Open with this:

    There's no "I" in "team", but there are three "U"s in "shut the fuck up".

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    5,531
    Quote Originally Posted by PNWbrit View Post
    Him of the teapot?

    Will probably piss off any bible bashers in your meeting quoting a famous Agnostic.
    Quote Originally Posted by XXX-er View Post
    the situation strikes me as WAY too much drama at this point

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    The Cone of Uncertainty
    Posts
    49,304
    Well if they're from Office Space it would okay.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    The Cone of Uncertainty
    Posts
    49,304
    Quote Originally Posted by I've seen black diamonds! View Post
    Then he should quote Pope Urban II:

    "All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested?"
    The question mark makes that quote.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,935
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    33,876
    I think more meetings should be on a chair lift cuz you are stuck there for the ride in a cool place then you get to free yer mind on the ski down and hang out again on the chair
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Access to Granlibakken
    Posts
    11,907


    ......

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •