Meet

Purpose

Use when one or more people meet to accomplish something.

Steps

    1. Check In.
    2. State What You Want.

State, in a succinct way, what you want to get from this meeting.

Examples:

      • “I want to know what our message is for this version.”
      • “I want ideas for how to improve morale on this team.”
      • “I want to Perfection Game how that last customer meeting went.”

If you want what someone else wants in the meeting, you may state that as your Meeting Alignment. Example: “I want the same thing that Joe wants.”

    1. Alignment Check.

At any point during the meeting, especially when a lull occurs or someone is off topic, say “Alignment Check.” At that point each person states, from 1 to 10, where they are in getting what they want. Whoever has the lowest score is expected to lead in attaining what they want. If you give yourself a 10 during an Alignment Check, this means you have gotten what you wanted and may leave the meeting if desired.

Example:

“Alignment Check”
“9”
“2”
“10”
“8”
“Sue, you said 2, so let’s work on yours.”

    1. Adding Wants (Optional).

If you are at a 10 in getting what you wanted, you may add a new Want.

Example:

“I want to add a new Want. I want to give the team my idea about how to ship this product earlier.”

At that point, proceed to get the new Want until you are at a 10.

    1. Check Out.

After getting what you want out of the meeting, you may do one of the following:

      • State a new Want.
      • If you have agreed to help someone get what they want, then you would stay until they have gotten their want.
      • Check Out

Commitments

  • To have a measurable, desired personal outcome for the meeting.
  • To get what you say you want from the meeting.
  • To hold others accountable for getting what they want.
  • To declare and pursue only one Want at a time.
  • To re-perform Meeting Alignment when your Want changes during a meeting or if you have a new Want after achieving your previous one.
  • To have a relevant Want that is in line with the overall meeting objectives.
  • To leave the meeting if you do not know what you want.
  • To support others in leaving the meeting when they have what they want (are at a 10).

Notes

  • State any meeting constraints at the beginning of the meeting.
  • Split into smaller groups if there are more than 8 participants in a meeting.
  • Use Decider to make decisions efficiently.
  • Ask for Help to get what you want.
  • Example: “Dave, will you help me after this meeting by going over this with me?”
  • Take explicit action to pursue what you want from the meeting if you are the lowest on an Alignment Check.
  • Do an Intention Check on why you are in the meeting, especially if you don’t know what you want.
  • Limit discussions when results do not come quickly. If needed, simply make a presentation and ask for ideas, perfecting, and 1-1 discussions once the meeting is over.

Copyright © 2007 Jim and Michele McCarthy

This document is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. For more information see the The FSF’s General Public License webpage.