Knitting in meetings
Another 21st century etiquette issue
Dear Bex,
I recently sat in (and paid attention to) an important meeting, the results of which could affect the entire direction of the organization to which I belong. This was not a big meeting. Everyone present was expected to contribute. So I was surprised when a fellow meeting attendee pulled out their knitting and continued to knit throughout the entire meeting. What are your thoughts on this? Drop Stitch, Portland Or.
Dear Drop Stitch,
How very Portland. But, seriously, I’m not a fan. Call me old fashioned but I think there are a few business standards to which we should still adhere. One of those is paying full attention to the meetings that we are in. If you don’t feel the need to pay full attention to the meeting - and I’m also talking to those of you who bring other work or do the crossword - then you should excuse yourself.
Now I know there are knitters out there who will explain that its possible to knit and pay attention at the same time, after all this is a time-honored way to occupy your hands while watching TV. To those people I say that while this is possibly true its just not a good look and could be interpreted as disrespectful or a sign of disengagement. Also the clicking of needles drives me nuts.
There are times and places for knitting - business meetings are not some of them.
Although I could never really keep up all the acronyms of Microsoft's, ahem, cliques, I'm in full agreement with their re-definition of multitasking as 'Continuous Partial Attention'. It may be that knitting on camera can give you the cosy look of a sage granny, but I think you really need to be a little old lady who is simultaneously smoking a pipe to pull the look off with conviction.
I'd like to try weaving during long Teams meetings, but worry that the shuttle will keep knocking the camera aside with every weft through the warp, and give the game away.
Dear Bex - Your comments are duly noted and have entered the minutes of our last meeting at Knit Your Heart Out magazine in Des Moines IA. As previously stated, I am the Editor in Chief and would be happy to extend a free 6 month subscription to you and yours. In the meantime, I would like to draw your attention to a wonderful ode to the knitting needle available on Spotify called Dueling Needles - The Pure Sound of Thoughts Unspoken (with thanks to Phillip Glass). by the world's leading cable knit master, Eric Barnaby Gottenberg. As Eric once said to me at the Knitters' Guild Convention in Twitsberg PA: "Never let anyone harsh your double drop overtwist"
Sincerely, Doris Sneed.