Help the group think...

Do you find yourself in meetings where, as soon as a topic comes up, 2 or 3 people are throwing their point of view into the mix, while others sit back wondering what’s going on? 

One person seems to be trying to solve the problem;
Someone else is questioning whether the problem even exists;
Another person is explaining how they approached the same issue in their last job;
All while one person checks Instagram to see who's commented on their latest Golden Retriever video.  

At moments like these, the room needs someone (that's you!) to ask a “balcony” question... 

Something to try...

Try asking, “How do we want to tackle this conversation?”

The question is designed to get everyone off the dance floor and onto the balcony, as it were - so they agree on the best way to have the conversation, before jumping straight into it.

... How long do we have?
... Can we spend time understanding the problem before we try to solve it?
... Do we want to explore multiple options before we lock down an approach?
... Who else needs to be involved?
... Is this even the right forum for the discussion?    

3 reasons why

1. Mitigate the mindlessness: Most meetings suffer from over-stuffed agendas, with way too little thought given to how (and whether) those topics should be tackled. If you combine this with a lack of strong facilitation, then you end up with a bunch of people bouncing around topics like they’re in a pinball machine. Every meeting needs people who pay attention to the process, even if they are not formally chairing the meeting - especially if the chair is an enthusiastic contributor themselves!
      
2. Harness all the voices: A lack of clear process is one of the main ways that meetings becoming non-inclusive. If you have 2 or 3 people voicing their contribution straight out of the gate, others can be left unsure how or when to contribute. Agreeing on a way of tackling the conversation can help people to see their role in the conversation, and bring perspective to the table.
   
   
3. Think smart: Different situations need different kinds of thinking. (Just ask Edward De Bono about his 6 Thinking Hats!) There’s a big difference between divergent thinking and (exploring and diagnosing an issue, coming up with different options) and convergent thinking (evaluating ideas and narrowing down to a plan). Most issues need both. But what often happens in meetings is that, between the different people in the room, groups often try to be in both modes at once, which is chaotic and messy. It’s like trying to chop onions and fry them at the same time! By paying attention to the process, with questions like the one here, you can prevent this from happening.        

So how can you use this idea in your next meeting or conversation? And what else do you find works? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Cheers
Simon