Re: Meeting strategies--check-out/Check | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Pablo Halpern (phalpernworld.std.com) | |
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 94 15:32 CDT |
David Hungerford intended to post this to the list but sent it to me, instead. Since he didn't keep a copy, he asked me to re-post it: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pablo Halpern asked (in a non-posted communication): >I would love to do a check-out at every meeting. The question is, in the >middle of a hectic development process, how do you do a valuable check-out >without spending 45 to 60 seconds per person for a go-round? >It seems to me that a simple word or sound is insufficient. I am not >interested in people just saying "good meeting" or "bad meeting." Quite simply, everyone doesn't talk. Rather than doing a round-robin or other process which, by its design, encourages everyone to talk *even though they are essentially saying the same thing others have said*, only those who feel they have something different/important to say speak up. Now, part of the reason this seems to work is that we have a group process that is nurtured by a "coordinating committee" who meet (in an open meeting) 1 week before each "general meeting" to set the agendas. This committee (rotating membership) maintains a current agenda, and keeps rankings of agenda items so that they are dealt with as quickly as necessary. Its members facilitate the general meetings. They also make the judgement as to whether to send an issue which is brought to them back to a committee for more work before presentation to the group. We consider our twice monthly general meeting time very valuable (not to imply that any meeting is invaluable) and it is the task of "Co-co" members to jealously guard that time so that we get the most done in the least time. We don't have formal check-ins/check-outs at regular committee meetings, but the process at those meetings is less formal and so encourages input and participation. Certainly a design meeting doesn't really need a check-in/check-out, especially if there is a forum for individuals to bring there concerns to, like our Co-co. If something crops up in a general meeting that takes more than 5 minutes or so, the timekeeper/facilitator then asks, at the end of the alloted time, if the group wants to add time to the agenda to continue the discussion (a decision requiring consensus) or whether they (the coordinating committee) need to add the topic to a future agenda. So, for most meetings, the check-out allows issues to be brought up, lets the rest of the group know when someone (or a group of someones) feels strongly about an issue, and lets the coordinating committee members know if there were problems with the way the meeting went, but it does not allow the discussion to take place then. It holds the discussion over for time on a future >Would your method of check-out have the >desired effect on groups that don't live together yet? I don't know, but it probably depends on how long the group has been together and how well they implicitly trust each other. My memory of pre move in meetings is that it was therapeutic for everyone to have an opportunity to talk about almost every issue, even though there was much redundancy. Maybe the stress of making life-changing decisions, and personally scary compromises, in order to move forward toward an abstract goal deserves lots of time for listening. Going on about color choices very often is not about color choices at all, but about control, and compromise, and fear, and personal expression and all the other emotions that come with doing cohousing. But listening can be stressful too, especially when time is so valuable. That's exactly why we developed (actually, this should be "are developing" because the process never stops) a more streamlined way of listening/talking. And, I think its working. It is respectful and trusting to NOT say something when your opinion/perspective has been pretty much expressed by others. A simple "I feel pretty much like Eric does" is sufficient. (Fellow Muir Commons residents are probably chuckling at this because I may be the least likely person in the group to keep my mouth hut; witness my long-winded responses in this forum) I hope this helps, Pablo. David Hungerford Muir Commons Cohousing dghungerford [at] ucdavis.edu - Pablo ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pablo Halpern phalpern [at] world.std.com (508) 435-5274 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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