You closed the chapter on another meeting, but you’re not sure what happened. Some leave the meeting in alignment; others are playing Monday morning quarterback. Worse yet, some are actively undermining any agreements. There’s an opportunity to turn everyone from passengers to participants, to get everyone to say what needs to be said, to hear the differing perspectives and ultimately increase alignment.
Plan to close out your meeting by asking well-framed questions and getting responses before adjourning. Ask each person to write down the answer to a question like: “What will you communicate to others about our meeting?” “What has been left unsaid that needs to be said?” “What have we agreed to?” Then have each person share his/her response. Giving time to write down the answer to a question spurs deeper thinking. Minimally, you will have heard from everyone, and ownership, engagement, and alignment will increase.