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AIBU?

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Original poster

Team meeting - rotating chair

89 replies

KimGa · 24/10/2023 20:20

I am part-time (only 16 hours a week). I do admin to fit around school hours. I am the lowest paid, most part-time member of a team of about 35, local government.

We have a regular team meeting which happens to fall at a time I work. I’m of course happy to attend. However, they rotate who chairs the meeting and who minute takes every time, so everyone apparently has to have a turn regardless of seniority.

AIBU to think this is unfair? I don’t object to the minute taking because admin is what I’m paid to do but as I absolutely hate presenting/public speaking of any kind having to chair when it’s my turn causes me so much stress and anxiety.

Surely this is a senior leadership team task and their pay reflects that kind of responsibility.

OP posts:
Alltheyearround · 24/10/2023 22:25

@Barleysugar86 I also thought it might be a funny spinning chair story.

OP, its good to go outside your comfort zone once in a while. Make it short and sweet. Agenda, and record on your phone or work device of you are expected to do minutes. I certainly can't write as fast as people waffle talk.

23Oct · 24/10/2023 22:08

MammaTo · 24/10/2023 21:12

Urgg I hate this. I find it’s just another way for managers to shirk some responsibility under the disguise of “development”.
It might be one of those things you can’t get out of but I completely understand.

I'm guessing you're not a manager? What an awful attitude!

FuckingHellAdele · 24/10/2023 21:35

It's pretty standard IME, we have a few core roles (chair, action taker, coach, comms etc) that are on rotation and if you're in the meeting, you're on the rota.

It's actually quite a good leveller- I was in a meeting today where the head of a whole function struggled to navigate the Team room. He ended up with about 25 separate tabs open, it was hilarious to observe.

Forgotthebins · 24/10/2023 21:32

If it causes you stress and anxiety, I would have a word with your manager and say exactly that. Hopefully they can find a way to either support you to develop your confidence, or to manage a discreet get-out clause for you if the anxiety cannot be overcome at this time.

maddening · 24/10/2023 21:27

Yabu sorry

maddening · 24/10/2023 21:27

Yanu, it is a team meeting not presenting to the board.

BrieEncounter · 24/10/2023 21:25

Sorry OP I agree with the masses that YABU. We have the same ways of working for routine meeting. We take turns to chair, take notes, coach etc

The meeting falls in your work hours so it's fair you get involved

DelightfullyDotty · 24/10/2023 21:23

Barleysugar86 · 24/10/2023 21:02

Am I the only one who clicked in expecting an annoying colleague swinging around in their seat 😂

No😁. But then I used to do that worked in admin….it was a long time ago though….

gossipgurl · 24/10/2023 21:21

23Oct · 24/10/2023 20:59

How is chairing a meeting a 'senior leadership responsibility' that requires a higher level of pay?!

I agree - what do people do differently chairing a meeting vs participating normally?

lamalamalamasquirrel · 24/10/2023 21:14

What is it you don't like about it OP? Maybe someone will be able to help?

ActDottie · 24/10/2023 21:12

Yabu

We have daily huddles and weekly team meetings. We have a rota for who chairs it so each week it’s someone different.

So if it’s my turn to chair I lead in the team meeting a huddles. It’s good to share as everyone gets a chance from the most junior person to most senior.

MammaTo · 24/10/2023 21:12

Urgg I hate this. I find it’s just another way for managers to shirk some responsibility under the disguise of “development”.
It might be one of those things you can’t get out of but I completely understand.

Humblebottomous · 24/10/2023 21:09

😆 my boss tried something like this but it never took off because we’re all so busy we totally forgot we’re supposed to take notes - so he just does it.

Merryoldgoat · 24/10/2023 21:08

I had this in local government and the meetings edge such a waste of time as well as the minutes.

YANBU but nothing will change there!!

lamalamalamasquirrel · 24/10/2023 21:08

Just to add though I would expect anyone with a disability such as anxiety to be given the opportunity to opt out discreetly.

AllegroConMoto · 24/10/2023 21:05

Finetoday · 24/10/2023 21:04

Gosh I’d love this ! I’d do my agenda in my own style, mute the gobby ones, give the floor to the quieter ones, provide biscuits AND fruit, and most of all finish on time !

I have been known to have certain people on a timer and literally cut them off if they go over!

(They do get fair warning)

Wonkasworld · 24/10/2023 21:05

RuffledKestrel · 24/10/2023 20:58

I'm another who hates it, but agree it's a good learning experience. Even our apprentices chair our team meetings and to be perfectly honest it's great to see how their confidence has grown over the years doing this. Even they have said it's been good for them. Our team is around 18 so it's not very often either.

Edit: the exception being if this is a very formal team meeting.
Our weekly ones are informal but our quarterly department ones are always chaired by team leaders.

Edited

That's great for the apprentices' CVs.

Finetoday · 24/10/2023 21:04

Gosh I’d love this ! I’d do my agenda in my own style, mute the gobby ones, give the floor to the quieter ones, provide biscuits AND fruit, and most of all finish on time !

RuffledKestrel · 24/10/2023 21:03

No. I expect an amusing story 😆

Barleysugar86 · 24/10/2023 21:02

Am I the only one who clicked in expecting an annoying colleague swinging around in their seat 😂

LaughingCat · 24/10/2023 21:01

It’s very fair if everyone has to take their turn - precious few enjoy chairing meetings (I dread my turn and none of my colleagues look forward to theirs). But it gives you a safe space to take more of a senior role (which is usually just following an agenda and pulling the conversations back from the tangents). And something to bitch about over Teams with your colleagues lol. We all gotta do things we don’t enjoy at work unfortunately.

23Oct · 24/10/2023 20:59

How is chairing a meeting a 'senior leadership responsibility' that requires a higher level of pay?!

AllegroConMoto · 24/10/2023 20:59

Chairing a team meeting isn’t really a great responsibility though, is it?

It’s fairly standard practice here. We tend to encourage the less senior members of staff to do it more often, as they will need to chair bigger meetings at some point so it’s good practice.

madnessitellyou · 24/10/2023 20:59

I worked somewhere that did that. I bloody loved it because when I chaired we finished on time. I was known for my absolute militancy when it came to time keeping and when the big boss asked if it could have another 5 minutes to pontificate for a further 20 I was very happy to say no.

I too was anxious the first time but ended up greatly enjoying the power!

RuffledKestrel · 24/10/2023 20:58

I'm another who hates it, but agree it's a good learning experience. Even our apprentices chair our team meetings and to be perfectly honest it's great to see how their confidence has grown over the years doing this. Even they have said it's been good for them. Our team is around 18 so it's not very often either.

Edit: the exception being if this is a very formal team meeting.
Our weekly ones are informal but our quarterly department ones are always chaired by team leaders.