The Meeting About The Meeting
A client just told me about their leadership meeting where, yes, they spent 45 MINUTES in a meeting…
…to decide when to schedule a meeting…
…to discuss the decision they need to make…
…about the thing that already happened last week!
(DOH!)
This is what I call a “Low Chaos, Low Complexity” decision that got treated like a “High Chaos, High Complexity” crisis decision. These definitions are from my “Uncertainty Decision Matrix”. (Oh yeah, I’m very fun at parties.)
Let’s dissect what actually happened:
They had complete information. The situation wasn’t changing. But because it FELT complex, they defaulted to “let’s get everyone’s input” mode, which turned a 20-minute decision into a three-week process!
The antidote?
Start by asking ONE question: “What type of uncertainty are we actually dealing with?”
Because sometimes the answer is: None! You just need to decide!
Not every decision needs:
❌ A task force ❌ A SWOT analysis ❌ Input from 47 stakeholders ❌ A follow-up meeting ❌ A never-ending royal commission culminating in a 747-page report no one except Bob will ever read
Sometimes it just needs:
✅ The framework ✅ The right people in the room ✅ 20 minutes ✅ Someone to say “yes, and let’s move!”
Sometimes the most crucial decision you can make is to decide what type of decision is needed?
Is it really complex or do you already know HOW to do this?
Is there really a lot of uncertainty surrounding this decision or is this more ‘situation-normal’?
Sometimes the fast decision IS the right decision.
Faster, clearer, and with 100% fewer meetings about meetings.
Your move.
(See what I did there? Decision-making humor. Still fun at parties.)
What’s the longest meeting-about-the-meeting chain your team has had for one decision? I need to know I’m not alone in this. 😅
