81 painfully relatable meeting memes

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes”, or so said Benjamin Franklin in 1817. Experiencing a bad meeting is surely another to add to the list — because despite everyone’s best intentions, they’re surely an inevitable part of work life. 

Whether tech hiccups derail proceedings or there’s just no agenda in place, bad meetings are unproductive, frustrating, and a serious waste of everyone’s time. Luckily, for every bad gathering, there’s a meme that finds the much-needed humor in the situation. They might not help you salvage things, but you know what they say about misery and company. 

Pointless meetings 

We’ve all been there: sitting in a meeting that drags on. And on. Could it have been an email? Probably. Pointless meetings are the bane of our work lives, filled with ambiguous discussions and a lack of actionable outcomes that leave us questioning the very nature of our work existence. 

To counteract the madness, set a clear purpose and agenda before gathering. This helps every participant understand the objectives and prepare ahead of time. 

Try using meeting minutes to track action items and outcomes. They help you stay focused and accountable. And encourage feedback on the meeting afterward, giving team members the chance to reflect on how future gatherings play out. 

By holding only the meetings that are genuinely useful, you’ll both free up time for more productive work, and get more out of attendees when you do hold one. 

Virtual chaos 

From someone accidentally leaving their mic on to the person who can’t figure out how to turn off that hilarious but wildly inappropriate cat filter, online meetings have brought a new level of chaos to our work lives. Throw endless tech glitches and the dreaded “Can you hear me now?” chorus into the mix, and you start to long for the simplicity of an in-person gathering. 

Although, on second thoughts, tech hiccups are a fair price to pay for a PJ-bottom work dress.

Start by encouraging participants to check their tech setups before the meeting kicks off. A quick audio, video, and internet test can prevent most interruptions. Set clear guidelines about muting mics when not speaking, and consider using features like “raise hand” or a timed agenda to keep order and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute without overlap.

And remember, not everyone thrives with the camera on all the time. Allowing people the option to join with video off can ease distractions and help those who feel less comfortable in front of a lens (or looking at a talking face) focus on the discussion instead. Regularly asking for feedback on the virtual meeting setup will help you continuously improve the experience, making the digital workplace feel more connected and less chaotic.

The neverending meeting

What started as a quick update snowballs into tangents, side conversations, side quests, and endless discussions that leave you staring at the clock. Meetings that drag on drain energy, productivity, and morale, making it hard to stay focused and engaged.

The key to avoiding long-winded meetings is setting a strict agenda with clear time limits for each topic — and sticking to it. 

Consider scheduling shorter meetings by default. Often, a 30-minute time slot is more than enough to cover everything, plus the shorter format encourages people to be more efficient with their input. If discussions do run over, don’t be afraid to schedule a follow-up meeting rather than forcing the current one to drag on.

Speaking of shorter meetings — breaking longer chats into smaller, more focused sessions is sometimes the answer. Addressing one or two key topics per meeting helps prevent information overload and keeps everyone more engaged. 

The awkward question session 

Q&A sessions can be hit and miss. Whether it’s someone asking something that’s already been answered, or going off on a completely irrelevant tangent, unruly answers eat time and energy. 

Set a time limit for Q&As to keep the session focused. Encouraging participants to share questions ahead of time can help filter out off-topic inquiries and keep the discussion relevant.

To avoid long-winded answers, add a time limit, and have a leader on-hand to guide the chat. And if a question requires a deeper dive, ask thoughtful questions or suggest a follow-up conversation outside the meeting.

Lastly, remind people there’s no such thing as a “stupid” question — but gently nudge the discussion back if it veers too far off course. This helps foster inclusion while keeping free-for-all chaos at bay. 

Who’s in charge here?

Speaking of chaos — sometimes meetings are pure mayhem — and not the fun bouncy castle kind. We’re talking free-for-all sessions where everyone shouts over each other, and no one follows the agenda.

While the idea of a “democratic” or “free-flowing” meeting sounds good on paper, too often they leave participants confused than empowered. Anything goes, and nothing gets done.

First, set clear ground rules: assign a facilitator to guide discussions and ensure everyone gets a chance to speak without being drowned out. This person should act as a referee, stopping the conversation from spiraling and redirecting focus back to the agenda.

Structure is your best friend here. Use a timed agenda to allot specific time slots for each topic, and stick to it! An open brainstorming session can be great, but make sure it’s framed within clear time constraints to avoid endless rabbit holes. 

Oh, and consider having a backup plan for technology glitches. This could mean having a reliable assistant who can handle the tech side or ensuring all participants know how to troubleshoot common issues ahead of time. 

Lastly, laughing off mistakes can lighten the mood and build camaraderie that makes future gatherings feel less daunting. 

Bad timing 

Few things make you want to groan more than a meeting scheduled at the worst imaginable time — during lunch, right before the end of the day, after hours, or just before lunch. Just when you’re about to grab that much-needed break or wind down for the evening, a calendar alert pops up, and suddenly you’re stuck in a room with a boss who apparently doesn’t have a life outside of work. Cue demotivated staff, resentment, and burnout.

Bosses, respect people’s time! Avoid scheduling meetings during lunch or at the very end of the day unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you must schedule it late or at lunch, provide snacks, and offer time off in lieu as compensation. And give people enough warning so they can plan around it. 

Showing empathy goes a long way too. Verbally acknowledge that it’s not ideal, and that you’re extremely grateful for the flexibility.

Meeting after meeting

Sometimes there’s a point to the meetings, but there’s just way, waaay too many of them. You hop from one to the next, with not a spare second to grab a coffee, let alone get any actual work done. Back-to-back meetings zap energy and productivity — not to mention cost the company serious money. 

Start by introducing ‘meeting-free’ days or time blocks, which gives workers the space to get their heads down without interruptions. And use tools like shared documents and project management software so people can share updates without always needing a face-to-face (or screen-to-screen) conversation. 

Lastly, get highly selective about which meetings truly need to happen. Prioritize the most essential discussions, and make sure each catch up has a clear agenda to keep it efficient. 

Meeting boredom 

Your eyes slide from the presentation slides to the clock, glaze over, or close entirely — that’s right, meeting boredom has struck. Whether it’s a long-winded Zoom monologue, or the growing suspicion you could be doing something more important, boring meetings are the ultimate motivation zapper.

To keep things lively, start with icebreaker questions to set a lively tone. Adding interactive elements like polls, quizzes, games, breakout discussions, or group brainstorming opportunities are a great way to get people mentally checked in and contributing, rather than nodding with glazed eyes. And don’t forget to schedule in regular breaks to keep people refreshed.

Keep presentations concise and visually stimulating, using slides sparingly and focusing more on conversation than lectures. Considering assigning different team members to lead parts of the meeting to add new energy and fresh perspectives to the mix, breaking up the monotony. 

Family invasions 

You’re in the middle of an important virtual meeting when suddenly, your toddler bursts into the room, your dog starts barking, or your spouse decides it’s the perfect time to vacuum. Balancing work and home life during meetings isn’t always easy.

Start by setting boundaries with your household. Communicate your meeting schedule to family members ahead of time, and create a designated, quiet workspace where interruptions are less likely to happen. If possible, have a backup plan — like a partner or babysitter on standby during crucial events — to help manage distractions.

When disruptions do happen, take them in stride. A quick apology or muted mic can minimize the impact, and embracing the occasional interruption with a smile can help humanize the remote work experience. After all, everyone is facing the same challenges, and a little understanding can go a long way.

And when all else fails? Just laugh it off. Sometimes, the best way to handle a family invasion is to roll with it and carry on. After all, it’s these moments that remind us we’re all human.

Technical issues

Ah, the sweet sound of buffering and the dreaded “Can you hear me?” chorus. A technical hiccup during a meeting feels like a rite of passage in the video meeting world. 

To dodge the dreaded tech glitch, ask all participants to run pre-meeting checks to make sure their audio and video settings are functioning as they should. 

Using a reliable internet connection and having a backup option, like a mobile hotspot, can help keep disruptions short. It’s also a good idea to establish clear protocols for handling technical difficulties, like migrating to a designated backup communicator (like a team chat app) until things are working again. Finally, keeping a few common phrases to wheel out when things go wrong can bring levity to tech troubles, helping everyone to laugh rather than panic.

Bad etiquette 

From the unspoken rules of muting to the art of the polite nod, this section is all about those social cues we sometimes forget. 

Improving meeting etiquette starts with educating all participants on conduct norms expected during gatherings. 

Set out a clear set of guidelines, like muting microphones (and faces) when not speaking, and not talking over others during group discussions. Encouraging respectful conversation and active listening can lead to more productive discussions, while soliciting feedback can help you fine-tune those tricky group dynamics. 

Meeting agendas (a lack of) 

Ah, the meeting agenda — a noble ideal that often falls flat. We’ve all been there, sitting in a room (or a virtual one) where discussions spiral out of control, leaving us questioning if we’re covering the right topics, or even in the right room. Usually, a lack of agenda is to blame. 

To stop meetings from spiraling out of control, begin with a clearly defined purpose and a structured outline. And share it pre-meeting! Distributing the agenda beforehand means participants can prepare their contributions, making discussions more focused. Assigning a timekeeper can also help keep the meeting on track, giving each topic the attention it deserves. 

And don’t neglect post-meeting follow-up. After the meeting, recap the key points and action items to reinforce clarity, setting the stage for more efficient gatherings in the future.

Meeting notes (not taking them) 

“Wait, can someone remind me what we talked about?” Taking notes during a meeting is a great idea, but few of us actually do it well. And should you really be writing, or focusing on the speaker? Then there’s the question of whether pen and paper or laptop is better. 

Note-taking can enhance meeting productivity. But there’s a balance between listening and feverishly writing everything down. The best approach? Make note-taking a collaborative effort.

Assign a dedicated note-taker for each meeting rotation to capture action items and make sure key points don’t vanish into the void. 

Creating a standardized format for meeting notes has the added bonus of helping with clarity and accountability, making it easier to refer back to previous discussions. And as for the old typing vs pen and paper discussion? Studies show writing by hand is best, so close that laptop. 

Meeting anxiety 

Is this meeting a one-way ticket to the unemployment line? Phrases like “We need to talk” or “Let’s have a quick catch-up,” are enough to send most minds racing through a checklist of workplace misdemeanors. Especially millennials, who are overwhelmingly the most anxious workers around. 

To lower meeting anxiety, establish a culture of open communication. Regular check-ins with employees can highlight areas for growth and improvement, taking the edge off standard check-ins while offering timely feedback before any formal gatherings take place. Emphasizing the importance of constructive discussions over punitive measures may also soothe that impending dread. 

And when a serious meeting is on the table, framing it as a chance for open conversation rather than a one-way assessment can encourage a healthier, less stressful atmosphere for all involved.

Anarchistic meetings 

Not all meetings happen in boardrooms. Informal gatherings where employees blow off steam, vent frustrations, or brainstorm in a more relaxed environment can often turn into the most productive (or cathartic) sessions. They’re not ‘bad’ per se, at least, not according to the attendees. 

Think of them as a way for workers to reclaim their voice, work in a more relaxed environment, and swap war stories. No, managers aren’t in charge, and that’s exactly why they’re great. 

While it’s important to let loose, these informal meetups can be an opportunity for genuine reflection and team bonding. Encourage a relaxed but respectful tone if you’re privy to one — everyone should feel free to vent without turning the conversation into a gripe-fest.

Use these gatherings to build camaraderie, but also take note of recurring themes. If certain frustrations or ideas keep coming up, they might be worth raising in more formal settings later.

Lastly, enjoy the spontaneity of these “meetings” — they can be a space where creativity flows freely, so don’t shy away from jotting down those bar-napkin ideas. You never know when one might turn into your next big project.

Sub-par facilities 

We’ve all been there — gathered in a conference room where the projector is on the fritz and the aircon is apparently set to Arctic Blast. Sometimes the meeting space itself is the biggest obstacle to getting things done. Or you can’t find a space full stop. 

Whether it’s sub-zero temperatures, dim lighting, or a weird echo that makes everyone sound like they’re in a cave, poor facilities can make a bad meeting even worse.

First, scope out the room ahead of time. If you’re hosting, turn up early to test the equipment and fix any potential tech issues. Bring portable backups where possible, like a personal hotspot for unreliable Wi-Fi or an extra HDMI cable for that dodgy projector.

If the space is uncomfortable, keep meetings short. No one wants to sit through a two-hour marathon in a room that feels like a freezer (or a sauna). Offer standing options or even schedule a walking meeting if appropriate — movement can boost energy and creativity.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of a good snack! Offering coffee, tea, or light refreshments can take the edge off an otherwise unpleasant environment and keep everyone focused on the task at hand.

Tips for a smoother gathering

The secret to a winning meeting? Good prep. First, make sure the meeting actually needs to happen. Using collaboration software that allows team members and stakeholders to log in and track progress has meant all those catch-up meetings can probably go. For the meetings that do remain, make sure everyone knows why it’s happening, what the goals are, and what’s expected of them. 

Familiarize yourself (and others) with the technology being used (a quick tech check before the meeting can save a lot of embarrassment later), and create a structured agenda to keep things focused and productive. And don’t forget to use data and diagrams to make your points engaging. 

Lastly, infuse some fun into the proceedings by integrating icebreakers or virtual games that lighten the mood and foster camaraderie — and post-meeting, turn those notes into actionable tasks so everyone can hit the ground running.