So you fell asleep during a meeting at work…now what? This is a touchy topic, especially for those who have been in this situation—including myself.
One day, a Personnel & Organization (P&O) agent was giving a 15-minute presentation, and unfortunately, that’s when it happened–I nodded off—a couple of times.
Although I apologized to my line manager and the P&O agent afterwards, I still felt the sting of being told I was disrespectful for doing so. However, later I thought to myself, “Who purposely nods off during a meeting?”
That question forced me to do some research.
I discovered that in Japan, “inemuri,” which is often translated as “sleeping on duty,” is viewed as a subtle sign of diligence: You must be working yourself to exhaustion. As a matter of fact, books written on this subject state it would be more accurate to render it as “sleeping while present.”
How many times have we watched or read about political leaders falling asleep during world conferences? Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev nodded off during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, and not too long ago, someone’s United Nations speech was so boring that world leaders nodded off.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t give you a pass to nod off at every meeting, excluding sleeping disorders and/or health issues. But it could be due to indoor air pollution; levels of carbon dioxide tend to build up in rooms over time, while oxygen levels decline, leading to stale, stuffy air and a slower-working brain.
A study last year by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that CO2 levels are worse in meeting rooms, and also in classrooms.
Falling asleep during a meeting can feel embarrassing, but it’s not always a sign of disrespect or laziness. Sometimes, it’s a simple result of exhaustion, poor air quality, or an unavoidable human moment. While it’s important to stay engaged and alert when possible, occasional slip-ups happen—even to world leaders. The key is to address it professionally, make adjustments when needed, and remember that one mistake does not define your work ethic.
Bernina M. Moore
