When Meetings Become Theatre – Why We Perform At Work and What Makes Meetings Better
About this episode
Ruth explores the performative aspects of workplace meetings and offers strategies for improvement.
In this episode of Frustrated and Exhausted , Ruth dives deep into the performative nature of workplace meetings, exploring why so many of us feel compelled to "act" in these spaces and what organizational factors drive this behavior. Ruth unpacks the cultural, political, and emotional layers that shape how we show up in meetings, and shares actionable strategies for making meetings more effective, authentic, and conducive to real thinking. Topics Covered The Performance of Meetings Ruth examines how people often perform competence, composure, and alignment in meetings, rather than showing up authentically or admitting uncertainty 00:36 . Meetings as a Mirror of Culture Meetings reveal organizational dynamics like hierarchy, trust, clarity, and psychological safety — sometimes more so than any other organizational setting 01:35 . Why We Manage Perceptions Over Substance Ruth discusses how meetings can devolve into spaces for perception management, leaving real concerns unspoken and transforming meetings into "theatre" instead of opportunities for genuine thought 03:30 . The Problems of Performative Meetings Polished contributions take precedence over unfinished or exploratory…
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