Comments on: Got NDA?

By: Rajib Bahar

Rajib Bahar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:10:18 +0000

lol… By mentioning NDA, he opened up the door to all participants… Now, those participants will reach across their network and ask around to find people who’lll spill the beans on that NDA… Isn’t there a saying, “The best way to keep a secret between 3 man is to shoot the other 2…” ?

By: Gail

Gail — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:06:29 +0000

In other words, he wanted impress that he was *important* and had access to *privileged information*

If I’m pressed on a topic I’ll usually just say “I can’t tell you” and leave it at that.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:23:25 +0000

I agree with Joe, the person was just showing off and/or is an idiot! There is almost always a better way to deal with it. As a last resort tactfully excuse yourself from the call, DUH!

By: Steve Jones

Steve Jones — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:19:59 +0000

I guess I can’t say if I’m under NDA or not, but good points and I agree. If you can’t say anything and we didn’t ask you if you knew anything, shut the insert four letter word of choice up.

By: Joe Webb

Joe Webb — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:56:31 +0000

Yeah, that’s just a techie way of saying “nah nah nah nah nah, I know something that you don’t. ”

About the only time it’s necessary to invoke an NDA is if you’re pressed on a topic. Even then there are usually more tactful ways to handle it.

By: Peter Shire

Peter Shire — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:36:39 +0000

You nailed it! Saying you’re under NDA doesn’t help the meeting at all. Keep quiet. Unless, of course you have a cool interpretative dance that skirts the NDA (dance is an area most NDA miss) and delivers your special, unique, insider’s insight. Otherwise don’t bother.

By: K. Brian Kelley

K. Brian Kelley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:31:30 +0000

There have been only a handful of times when I’ve disclosed that I was under NDA and those all were during my USAF career. In every single case I was pressed about a subject by folks who knew I knew information about the topic at hand and that was the only way to stop the line of questioning.

But given the scenario you described, yeah, there was no point bringing up an NDA. It didn’t serve to advance the discussion at hand by doing so, so why do it?