Chris Gratigny

"I don't like using pen and paper. I'd rather type. I take my laptop everywhere with me. I can take notes with my laptop wherever I go. It's so much more convenient." That is true, but there is a time when you should use your laptop, and times that good old fashioned pen and paper actually do the trick. I used to think that writing everything on my laptop was the way to go, but I've found that laptops can really affect your ability to pay attention to the human in front of you.

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Starting May of this year, I'm been phasing out taking my laptop to meetings.  When I am at a meeting with no laptop, I'm able to pay full attention without having any distraction.  Even though I may be able to use the laptop when I'm in a meeting, it will rarely add to the effectiveness of the meeting, and what I take away from the meeting.

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Have you ever attended a planning meeting, and when the meeting is over you leave feeling great about the meeting.  The meeting went well, and as a group you chose what action to take.  You walked out, happy, thinking "we're going to get a lot done!".  A few days later, you look back at the meeting and start to wonder who is going to do what... and when.  You remember that the meeting was good, but you can't seem to remember what you were supposed to do.  Well then great!  You didn't have any tasks or responsibilities assigned to you.  

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