I ask:"Am I needed" and if the answer is yes I ask: "For what?"
After that it's pretty easy to figure out whether I should go or not. The important part is to realize that YOU are the judge of whether your presence is needed, not your PM or any other.
I think I have dodged probably 80% of meetings that way and I know I have not missed out on a single thing ever.
I also make the habit of showing up when I need and leave again when I am not needed.
That's rational advice. In a perfect world there would be no problems with it.
How do you deal with irrational humans who attach a bunch of unintended meaning to your actions? For example, some people will think you are arrogant, or rude, or uncooperative. I know you're not, you know you're not, but how do you persuade them that you're just being efficient?
Why should I? If I work at a place where thats an issue I shouldn't work there anyway cause that means the place is going to be a place I want to leave sooner rather than later.
I ask:"Am I needed" and if the answer is yes I ask: "For what?"
After that it's pretty easy to figure out whether I should go or not. The important part is to realize that YOU are the judge of whether your presence is needed, not your PM or any other.
I think I have dodged probably 80% of meetings that way and I know I have not missed out on a single thing ever.
I also make the habit of showing up when I need and leave again when I am not needed.