No two snowflakes are the same, and no two meetings are alike. But that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of meetings are a waste of your time. And more often than anyone would prefer, you still have to attend these meetings without going full Ali Wong in Beef.

So on the days when you’re stuck in a meeting that’s going long (or off the rails) and you have a million other things to do, ask these three questions:

How can I get us back on track if things start to spiral?

• This is all about managing up, which can get dicey if you don’t know tricks of the trade here. Aim for clear but tactful communication.
• For example: Instead of saying, “For the love of God, can we stop going in circles about this launch?” try, “Since the launch is this Thursday, let’s nail down the remaining action items and assign ownership.”

Does my full attention need to be on this Zoom, or can I multitask?

• Our take: Multitasking has gotten a bad rap—occasionally there are admin tasks you can knock off your list while still listening to that presentation on “Finding Your Inspiration at Work.”

What’s my go-to line to help wrap things up?

• Classic phrases include: “in terms of next steps,” “I have a hard stop at [X time],” “just one final thought before I need to hop off,” and “thanks for the great convo!”
• The key is to plant a seed at least a few minutes earlier than your planned departure.

Meetings can be valuable tools for collaborating in real time, but sometimes they’re just avenues for our bosses to hear themselves talk. Use these three prompts to get things back on track and actually make meetings useful.—CS

When it comes to airports, there’s one thing more annoying than the person who forgets to take their belt off while going through security—and that’s Southwest fumbling the football again. After major disruptions this past winter, the airline also had to delay thousands of flights after a tech problem last week.

Normalizing and celebrating failure is a hot topic these days, but everyone has their limits. Here’s when you should and shouldn’t celebrate failure.

Do celebrate

• Taking smart risks: When you swing for a big idea that you’ve approached thoughtfully and tested (or even hedged), your team will keep thinking big and innovating, instead of being afraid to push boundaries.
• Knowing when to sunset a project: Getting invested in a project sometimes means you’re willing to ignore the red flags to continue dating working on it. When someone chooses to act on the warning signs of failure, that deserves a little fanfare.
• Making stretch goals: A growth mindset is crucial for all team members, so when someone pushes themselves outside their comfort zone to tackle a difficult task, that’s worth celebrating even if they don’t hit the mark.

Don’t celebrate

• Repeated mistakes: This may seem obvious, but if you or your team is making the same mistake more than once, it’s time for a steep reevaluation, not a pizza party.
• Preventable issues: Bureaucracy, outdated tech systems, and glitchy firewalls are all known quantities. Being proactive and prepared is a great defense here.

Our rule of thumb when it comes to messing up at work? Fail me once, and you only need to send me a flight voucher—but fail me twice, and I might just switch to JetBlue.

Dive deeper: Amy Edmondson’s book The Fearless Organization tackles the nuances of when and where to embrace failure.

If you’ve ever worked ever, you’ve probably had a sh*tty boss. So you may relate: One in two employees have left a job in order to finally get away from their manager, per Gallup research.

Don’t be the reason one of your directs gives their two weeks.

In the Brew’s Leadership Accelerator, you’ll dive into tactical ways to be a better boss—things like how to excel as an introverted leader, sell your strategy even when you’ve got naysayers on your team, and push for results without sounding like a blowhard.

The next cohort starts on May 29. Apply today and secure your spot.

Stolen glances, smiles across the coffee shop, crushes on your RA down the hall…it turns out that companies have been there, too.

We’re showing you the Missed Connections Craigslist postings these companies should have written after a fateful sighting of a biz opportunity reading Anna Karenina on the subway. You tell us which companies are involved in each.

1. BE KIND, REWIND OUR LOVE: You came to me looking for a long-term relationship (and $50m), but I couldn’t recognize your full potential. I laughed you out of the room, but now I see the big picture. If you agree, let’s play out Sleepless in Seattle and meet at the Empire State Building.
2. FORBIDDEN LOVE: I’ll give you the credit—you were the hottest new thing since Venmo, and I was the established and respected old guard. We got past our differences and were so close to becoming a powerhouse couple, but our love was blocked by my Uncle Sam. I’m still down if you are…you wear the tartan pants and I’ll bring my $5.3b.
3. SEEKING RETRIBUTION: I thought we were a perfect match, but you sucked the life out of me. Just two years after we got together, my clear skies became stormy weather and you shut me down. You say I’ll always be part of you, but my friends disagree.

Read: Sahil Bloom dives into the “trap of the extraordinary”—and why we need to be more ordinary.

Watch: Conservationist and former CEO of Patagonia Kris Tompkins stars in a new Nat Geo documentary detailing her journey beyond fuzzy fleeces to protect millions of acres in Chile and Argentina—aka the OG Patagonia.

Listen: Christa Quarles, CEO of software company Alludo, discusses why “leadership by haiku” leads to more innovation and creativity.

Read: Roxane Gay’s take on the thrill of the office crush.

Get: Stop Googling how to do things in Excel when you can have the answers at your fingertips with the Excel deskpad.