Techniques of a Bored Meeting Scribbler

Let's face it. Most meetings are boring. There is nothing much that can be done about it unless you are the one presenting and facilitating the meeting. Chances are though that your boss wants you to go in his/her place because he/she "has another appointment" or "just can't make it". That usually means overwhelming boredom is just around the corner. What can you do to maximize the boredom and take advantage of all the "free" time you will have on your hands? Learn how to doodle. With a few key techniques, you will be on your way to scribbling meeting notes your peers are sure to be in total envy of.

Technique 1: You don't need to be an artist to be a great scribbler. Let your mind wander. By not paying attention, your mind can jump from one thought to another. Just doodle the images in your mind between the thought jumping. You will still look engaged and if anyone asks what you are drawing, just say it's a new visualization technique you are trying which will save you from writing out long notes. They will probably just say "oh" and not pay any more attention.

Technique 2: Draw what you know. This might sound hard until you try it. Write a few buzz words, circle a few, put an asterisk next to one of them, and underline some of them a few times. Then you can start doodling without the fear of someone thinking you're not engaged. Doodle a few diagrams, maybe a math equation, and then feel free to draw something random. No one will even look at the doodle. They will be more interested in deciphering what "notes" you are taking and why they are missing so much from the meeting.

Technique 3: Have a plan. You might have to give your boss a summary of the meeting in case you attended for him/her. In this case, be sure to cover your tracks by copying someone else's notes in between doodles. This is important because telling a great summary to your boss that lines up with how the meeting actually went is a great way to not only instill confidence in your boss that you have his/her back covered, but you will also be the envy of all the meeting attendees.

With these simple techniques, you can master the art of the boring meeting scribble. And when you do, send your doodles to me! I'll be posting some of my own masterpieces soon and would love to compare them to yours.