How to Stop Meetings Going Off Track

Hi there,

Have you ever been in a meeting that takes a turn off the expected agenda? Somebody brings up a topic that they care about, but it derails the rest of the meeting. I hear about this kind of thing a lot!

Here's a simple technique that fixes this. It's called a parking lot.

Before the meeting starts, set out the agenda of why you are there and then write "Parking Lot" on a whiteboard or flip chart at the front of the room. Then, if the conversation starts drifting somewhere that isn't useful for what you're trying to achieve, let it go for a moment (no need to be rude) but then say:

"This is a great conversation, but I'm not sure it's right for this meeting. Let's put it in the parking lot and I'll follow up with people on it afterwards."

That's it. I've used this in rooms with five people and rooms with fifty, and it works extremely well.

It works because people feel heard. Their point didn't get dismissed, it got noted. And you get to steer the meeting back on track without anyone feeling shut down.

The one rule: you have to actually follow up afterwards. If you don't, people will notice, and the next time you try to park something they won't buy it.

Do it well and you'll build a reputation as someone who runs tight, effective meetings. In my experience that's a rarer skill than it should be, especially in organisations where meetings have a habit of running the people rather than the other way around.

Here's to low-stress success,

James

(P.S. If you're working on your facilitation skills, this is one of the things we cover in project management training. Small techniques, big difference.)