Unblocking Stalled Meetings

09/15/2004

"It is impossible to be just if one is not generous." - Joseph Roux in Meditations of a Parish Priest

Unblocking Stalled Meetings

What do you do if you are running a meeting where there is a deadlock -- people just can't agree on a course of action? Ellen Belzer, writing in Working Woman magazine (August 1998) offers these strategies for getting the meeting moving...

* Bring out the middle. In many cases people with extreme views are most vocal, while those with more moderate opinions hold back because they don't feel as strongly about the issue being discussed. If this happens you need to do some coaxing.

* Agree on principles. If the meeting becomes bogged down with disputes over details, get the group to agree on basic principles from which to make an eventual decision. This gives a sense of accomplishment and establishes that there is some common ground from which to make an eventual decision.

* Draft a working agreement. Sometimes its easier to evaluate possible solutions when you see them in writing. It's also easier to think up new alternatives when you write down your ideas. So before a problem-solving meeting that you think may become deadlocked, ask each participant to send you a list of suggestions. Then incorporate them into a working document to use as the agenda for the meeting.

* Hold private meetings. Deadlocks often result when an issue is so emotional or complex that it's difficult to tell where individuals agree and disagree. In such cases it's helpful to assign one person to meet separately with representatives from each side of the issue. Then, in a group meeting, a mediator can identify areas of common ground, the areas in dispute and alternatives that may have come to light in the private sessions.

* Alter ingredients. Some groups stagnate because it's the "same old people" in the "same old place." You can encourage new group dynamics and creativity by meeting in a new atmosphere. Often a retreat to a local hotel or resort provides the needed stimuli. Adding or taking away a person can also help.

* Redefine the goals or issues. Deadlocks sometimes occur because the goals for a meeting are not stated clearly. Often the issues are too nebulous or too broad. If that's the case, the group may not know what is expected of them. Try writing down the problem to be sure it's defined properly. If the issue is complex, divide it up into "sub-issues" that will be easier for the group to handle.

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