I agree with you that things have to be out of control indeed to resort to the method described in the WSJ article – especially if professionally courteous and appropriate methods as you describe are available. I suppose Jared used the example because it highlights the problem so dramatically.

The advice you offer is not only good for controlling your vulnerability to others’ impositions, if you will, on your time – but your own; it’s a good tool for organizing your thinking about how you get your work done, and if you only engage in that exercise out of a need to discipline your meeting attendance, so be it.

Peter Drucker spoke extensively about how important it is for executives to come to an appreciation of how limited and valuable their time is – much of his advice derives from that alone. Henry Mintzberg has taken up that torch, today.

I do appreciate your stopping by to remind us how these intranet scheduling tools can be used with decency, rather than indecently fled from. Thanks for your visit and, of course, for your excellent work.

A much better alternative is to plan out your schedule ahead of time with your priorities (not just appointments/ meetings, but slices of time to complete your various tasks), so your time is already listed as busy in the tool. You shouldn’t get as many invites if your time is already booked. Yes, there will be those few that set up meetings for times when you are already booked. Just reject them or send a surrogate.

It’s really a lot simpler this way and a lot less annoying to others. Scheduling tools can be very useful and save a ton lot of time if used properly.