When people ask me "How are you today... " my standard answer is "When you live in Paradise - Perth - you are ALWAYS WELL!" But today I decided to change my greeting and when, as always happens, someone asked me "And how are you today... " I answered: "I am REJOICING because today in Paradise it is belting down with rain!" And most people come back with an "Uugghhh... what?"

But the rain got me thinking.. because, as they say in the classics... "It's good weather for ducks!" and I wondered how ducks run their meetings. And wouldn't you now it, I came across a great article called The Top 7 Ways That Ducks Hold Meetings by Steve Kaye. Strange, it reminded me of a number of meetings I have been to lately!

If you have ever walked through the park, here's what you noticed about ducks holding meetings.

1. No one pays attention to anyone. Most don't even appear to be part of the meeting. And none of them are watching the duck who is quacking. But they are all there because ducks have to know about everything that is happening in the park.
    

2. Ducks deliver lengthy monologues. Expect to hear: "Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack." Sure, this may last only half a minute but that's a long time for a duck with an attention span of five seconds. It's useful, however, because during this monologue the other ducks forget what they were going to say. So they begin quacking about something else.
    

3. No one seems to be in control. Without a goal or an agenda, any duck can run the meeting. And they do. Sometimes the duck who started the meeting has left to attend another meeting. But the rest of the ducks remain, quacking away.
    

4. The meeting seems to lack organization. This may take some careful study because of the similarities to meetings held by people. Nevertheless, it's true. The ducks started this meeting without a goal or an an agenda. As a result, ducks never know when a meeting has ended.
    

5. More than one duck quacks at the same time. Research on duck social dynamics has shown that this occurs because a) none of the ducks pay attention to the quacker, b) none of the ducks care about what the quacker is quacking, and c) none of the ducks have manners.
    

6. Ducks come and go throughout the meeting. Since nothing is being accomplished, it doesn't matter when you arrive or leave. Some ducks simply walk through a meeting while offering a few thoughtful quacks.
    

7. There are no minutes. Here the ducks show unexpected wisdom. Since they accomplish nothing, there is no reason to write about it.

Doesn't this sound like a lot of meetings you've been to?? For more of Steve Kaye's wisdom you can visit him at http://www.stevekaye.com and get some great FREE stuff.