Agenda item from EVERYONE PLEASE

[LadyFoxtrot]

I work for a large global firm, and once a month we have a call in which 30 plus people from all over the world sign in for updates from our US boss. The call is at 11, and he has just sent an email saying ‘please submit items for the agenda. I would like one agenda item from EVERYONE PLEASE.’

I’m a little aghast at this. The majority of us are team members, not managers. These calls have always been for us be caught up on what’s going on, it’s rare for anyone but the five managers to speak. I don’t get what’s changed?

I’m also not sure if it’s a logical request? Like me, I’m sure most of the team will have zero idea what to add to the agenda, and surely 30 extra items will make the call go on for days!

Is it just me or does this seem batshit? No idea what to say to him!

Can you double check with him that he meant everyone and not just each of the 5 managers?

Your agenda item should be 'how can we cut down the number of items for the agenda to make the meetings run smoothly' or somesuch

Agenda item: are these meetings really necessary?

They don't have to be different do they? Might be his way of finding out whether the attendees think the meetings are beneficial and which items are most useful to the majority.

I wish I had the nerve to say something like that.

Perhaps wowfudge, but I’m dubious tbh! He’s never seemed the time to worry about that.

I messaged him an update to a project I’m managing thinking I could add that (even though we are early stages and have nothing to report) and he’s replied saying that’s not at an update stage yet and to save it until the November call.

Fine, and what I thought too... but then, am I off the hook for an update? Do I have to come up with something else? I am clueless!

Not being a manager shouldn't mean you can't get involved in improving things and this could be an opportunity to get ideas from people who don't usually speak up

Ask for an update on whether the corporate strategy is changing as a result of COVID-19 and a discussion on how you or your team could change to support it better

Every week we have a company wide call of 700+ people in which the CEO updates on Covid and the like, so asking about corporate strategy would be a bit low level for this meeting. I could I suppose ask if there are any updates at our local office level but given boss is in the US I doubt he would know.

Literally no idea what got ask! Corporate are very good at keeping us updated so I don’t have any questions!

Make your agenda item about praising corporate for keeping everyone updated, then, and quit worrying.

Thanks Riggins, I’ll do just that!

Can you call your manager and ask if there's something they'd want added?