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4.6 Infinite Loop Conversations
Infinite loop conversations occur, because of weak agenda topics or a weak chairperson. These are people talking over the same subject repeatedly.
When the team gets off track and discusses items not related to the topic, a strong chair will intervene. A weak chairperson allows members to create infinite loops of conversation over the same topic.
When the meeting has a weak chairperson, the conversations can quickly get off topic. Usually a team member goes off on a tangent about the subject, which leads into another conversation. Good leaders will remind the team about the agenda and refocus. Good leaders will summarize the other topic, and ask the team if this should be an action item for the next meeting.
The subject falls into the "what if" game. This is actually someone being careful not to take risk. However, when you have individuals who start this, the infinite loop creates a "what if" of possibilities. The team falls into this endless loop, unless the chair stops it and focuses on the agenda item.
4.7 Weak Participation
Poor leadership will not enforce company policy or the rules of the meeting. The members do not listen or respect the policy sent out by the team chair or leadership, causing weak participation.
The lack in belief in the project causes weak participation. Team members think the goal of the meeting or project is a dead-end and has no value. It is not worth their time to join in the meeting.
The meeting is not well-organized and members have a difficult time finding the conference rooms. This is due to poor planning on the chair and leadership's behalf.
The meeting start times are in direct conflict with other meetings, or difficult to attend. This happens frequently on global meetings, where several members are not even in the same time zone.
The conference room is too small, hard to find, or in a location that makes it impossible to attend the meeting.
The meeting has no direction; it's stuck in infinite loops, wasting everyone's time. The leader is weak, and cannot direct the meeting through these distractions.
The chair fails to send out the agenda in time, causing members to have difficulty scheduling their time for it.
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