Separate coming up with ideas and deciding
Separate coming up with ideas and deciding
Free Facilitation Course: Simple tips for less terrible meetings
1. Setup roles and rules so that it feels like a game
1. Setup roles and rules so that it feels like a game
2. Define a time limit per topic to ensure you end up on time
2. Define a time limit per topic to ensure you end up on time
3. Use sticky notes to show where the discussion is
3. Use sticky notes to show where the discussion is
4. Create a parking space for new ideas and off topic elements
4. Create a parking space for new ideas and off topic elements
5. Use votes to not talk for hours about what's already obvious
5. Use votes to not talk for hours about what's already obvious
6. Make people work in smaller groups and then share the summary
6. Make people work in smaller groups and then share the summary
7. Separate the mindsets to make it less confusing
7. Separate the mindsets to make it less confusing
What you learned and how to make it stick
What you learned and how to make it stick
Many meetings try to do two things at the same time. In them we try to come up with ideas and we try to narrow down which of these ideas are the best ones. All at the same time.
As shown in the little story it's pretty confusing and frustrating when you do it all at the same time.
That's why I usually seperate the tasks in the meetings I facilitate. For example I will give the team 20 minutes to find as many different possible solutions. At this time, we don't discuss them, we just list them. When someone wants to critize, give feedback or give details I tell them: that comes after. Now, we build the list.
When the list is built, I then give some time to share feedback, vote and take a decision. At this moment, we can't add new ideas. We are just narrowing down.