1) When a new topic lands, the first 5 minutes are…

Buzzing — many ideas surface quickly Guarded — people wait for signals Tight — we jump to solutions

2) Range of perspectives you typically hear:

Wide — difference is welcomed Thin — usual voices set the tone Narrow — alignment expected fast

3) When disagreement appears…

We explore it with curiosity It feels risky; people hold back We contain it to keep moving

4) Listening quality:

Ideas build on ideas Some listening, lots of persuading Little; airtime = talking, not hearing

5) Silence usually signals…

Thinking time is respected Hesitation or politics Fatigue or disengagement

6) Who steers the flow?

Shared — facilitator balances voices The senior/confident few The chair decides and closes

7) When things get messy/confusing…

We work the “Groan Zone” productively We lose patience and stall We shut down divergence to converge

8) Decision moment feels…

Clear — shared understanding & next steps Vague — who decided what? Top-down — wrapped by authority

9) After the meeting, people are…

Energised and aligned Confused about reasoning/roles Unmoved — “another meeting”

10) Decision rules are…

Explicit (e.g., consent, leader-decides-after-input) Implicit — we guess in the moment Simple: leader decides quickly

11) Who owns follow-through?

Shared — owners & timelines are explicit Unclear — responsibility is assumed Leader/expert owns most of it

12) If your process were a shape, it’s closest to…

A diamond: explore → struggle → integrate → decide A plateau: cautious talk without lift A funnel: quick narrowing from the start

What’s Really Happening in Your Decision Room?

Pick the option that best fits your typical decision meeting