The One where Women drive me Crazy

I am part of several groups that are mainly women's groups and sometimes...well, I could just scream.  I just don't understand why these groups can't be run the same way as a regular business meeting.  Why, oh why do we have to be "careful" and "mindful" and all those other things? 

Let me talk about a few things that really should be different:

1) Meetings need agendas.  A meeting cannot be successful without everyone understanding the purpose and what is to be accomplished.  Don't send me a note that we are having a meeting on Wednesday without telling me why.  How can I be prepared?  For that matter, how can anyone be ready for a vague request?

2) Four women cannot talk at the same time.  There has to be an order of some kind.  Someone has to be the referee and keep the order and not be afraid to do so.  So many of the meetings I am on - whether a call or in person - turn into a free for all with multiple women talking and side conversations.  Would you do this at work?

3) Speaking of side conversations.....let's try our best to stay on topic.  If there is an agenda and we can keep it  to one person holding the floor at one time, then we actually have a chance to end a meeting on time.  Wouldn't that be nice.  Call a meeting for 7:00 and be done by 9:00?  Maybe you would have more women interested in joining the group!

I could certainly talk about this subject for hours, but I think that if we could somehow work on these three items many more women would be happy to be part of our groups and they would grow not shrink.  We need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and think like a businesswoman, that's how we thrive!

Maybe then I won't have to further discuss how women drive me crazy......