What it actually means
I want to feel informed but not be responsible for anything.
Surface meaning: To request being included in ongoing communications.
If someone just said “Keep Me in the Loop” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Director: Keep me in the loop on this one.
(Now CC'd on 200 emails, will read 0.)
How to respond
Send a single weekly digest. Replace 47 CC'd emails with 1 status email. Saves their inbox; protects your time.
Origin
1960s aviation, where 'in the loop' meant inside the feedback loop. Now means 'inside the BCC'.
FAQ
What does "Keep Me in the Loop" actually mean?
I want to feel informed but not be responsible for anything.
Where did the phrase "Keep Me in the Loop" come from?
1960s aviation, where 'in the loop' meant inside the feedback loop. Now means 'inside the BCC'.
How should I respond when someone says "Keep Me in the Loop"?
Send a single weekly digest. Replace 47 CC'd emails with 1 status email. Saves their inbox; protects your time.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
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