As a brand manager, there’s an art to appearing perpetually engaged, even when your mind is meandering. Confession: I’ve perfected what I call the ‘thoughtful squint.’ It’s my go-to expression for looking focused during meetings, even when I’m actually planning dinner.

It’s not about disinterest but about managing energy. Sometimes, the mind needs to drift to uncover hidden gems of creativity. The ‘thoughtful squint’ buys that time while keeping up appearances. And let’s face it, we’ve all been there — physically present but mentally in a galaxy far, far away.

So next time you see me in a meeting, sporting a calculated gaze, know that I might just be visualizing my lasagna layers rather than the bottom line.

What’s your secret meeting survival hack? Share your own confessions in the comments or drop me a discreet email at [email protected]. Let’s exchange stories of how we keep up the facade of focus.