How Can I Be More Effective in My Meetings?

This is more as a special reminder for me more than anything else. More often than not, I find meetings that I host spin out of control, or go beyond the scheduled time. We all have been there, and we do not want to cut people off especially when the discussion is germane, or when there is a decision to be made around a central problem or solution. Below is a blog by Mike Cohn of Mountain Goat Software, and I just love the boundary and questions we need to pose, to make the team move forward if bogged by seemingly incessant discussions. Read on:

I was in a meeting recently where the discussion was dragging on endlessly.

Worse, it seemed like consensus had already been achieved, but the meeting was plodding along because a few people, it seemed, were unwilling to make a decision without all the information.

But there are a few problems with that mindset. Getting all the information before making a decision:

• Is probably impossible
• Will definitely be time consuming
• May not lead to a better decision

When I start to feel like the discussion in a meeting has gone on too long, I've learned that it's useful to ask participants to state which way they're currently inclined or leaning in regard to the decision.

I am always clear that I'm not looking for a binding decision or vote. I just want to "take the temperature of the room" or see how close a group might already be to agreement.

If there are still a wide variety in opinions, I encourage the group to continue the open discussion they've been having. (And I learn that I was just probably overzealous in wanting to be done.)

But, if the group is close to agreement with the exception of perhaps one or two different votes, I ask those individuals if they could support the opinion of the others, at least for the next discussion.

And once everyone agrees, even if not wholeheartedly, with a tentative decision, I'll ask, "Great. If we make this decision, what could make us regret it later?"

And then we'll talk through any of those issues that need discussion. But this usually goes very quickly because a tentative solution is now on the table and we're talking through ways to validate or reject the idea.

The goal is never to rush through a meeting and make a bad, hasty decision. But we also don't want to talk needlessly after a group has already reached consensus but just doesn't know it yet.

Saving time in meetings will help your team succeed with agile,