Pointless meeings

I often get grouchy at meetings. Often meetings are held for the sake of themselves. Sometimes you have meetings where you have a good purpose, but they don't lead to anything. You have all been on these pointless meetings. In these meetings you do not know what to say and often it is the same for everyone. Everyone tries to say wise things, but it's like trampling water, instead of getting somewhere

You sit there and everyone talks about the problem instead of the solution. Do you listen to what people say you hear:

• Unspecified noun ("We" - Who we? "Help" - What help?)
• Unspecified verbs ("engages us" - in what way? How?)
• Generalizations (all, nobody, always, never)
• Rules (must, can not)
• Comparisons (better than, worse than)
• The participants repeat the same thing over and over again

This is a symptom that the discussion does not solve the concrete problem.

What we have to do is look for alternative methods to tackle the problem instead of talking about it.

What? How? When?

The key questions for solving a problem are:

• What is the problem?
• How can it be solved?
• When can I start?

First, you have to agree what the problem is. Just through a good problem formulation, you often see the solution. I don't know how many times I've been in a situation where a person has started to ask a question and by having to formulate the question also found the answer.

Once the problem is formulated, we can start finding the solutions if we did not see them instantly. Then we have to start looking at the problem from a new perspective.

What if?

The first step is to think beyond the frames that the meeting sets. You have to change your perspective to become creative in the problem solving. Think outside the room you are in now. Change position. See the meeting with new eyes. Ask questions like for your mind.

• How have you managed before?
  Almost everyone has done something ever in a similar situation that helped a lot. Help yourself and remind you of past successes even though they are small.
  
• In your wildest imagination, how would you do?
  Drop thoughts about economy, time and other obstacles, let the imagination flow!

What would Jesus do?

I am not a believerb but have great respect for the guidance that a faith can give. A friend of mine has a bracelet with the abbreviation WWJD: What would Jesus do? He is also not particularly religious, but it gives him guidance to find the direction in the decisions he makes in everyday life. It makes him become a better person.

One can apply the same principle in professional contexts; to take someone else's perspective to think differently.

• What would a good colleague do?
  Everyone has had a colleague who has expelled, who had solutions to problems you have had. Ask yourself "What would Matthias do?"
  
• What would an expert do? What would he, as you heard, hear a keynote at a conference say or do? What would a guru say in a movie? What would they do in the pattern company?

You will be amazed at how many ideas you finally come across.

From idea to reality

Having a lot of solving ideas for solving a problem, even if they are good ideas are not enough. The next step is to see who are actually practical ideas, sort them and create an action plan.

What can you do today? Give examples of a short and simple action.
What can be done within a week?
Write a single contract where the responsibility is distributed, and clarify the process of solving the problem.

Action plan

• I/we want to achieve the following results (goals)
• I/we will do the following to achieve the result (method)
• I/we will start with (schedule)
• I/we know that I/we have achieved my/our results when the following have happened (results)

If someone is more than you responsible for any sub-method, we'll list those responsible for this so that no one misses their responsibilities.