Closing a Meeting: Don't Forget To Ask!

One of the most important but often overlooked steps in closing a meeting is asking for agreement and commitment. Many facilitators and presenters mistake nodding heads or statements like "I understand" and "I get it" for agreement. Usually these things simply indicate understanding. Understanding is not agreement. Understanding does not indicate a willingness or commitment to act. Unless you ask you will not know if you have agreement and commitment, the two essentials for forward progress.

And while you are at it, don't forget to leave enough time in the agenda for some discussion. I have found that discussions that follow the big question are the most productive of the entire meeting because you now have their attention. Asking moves the topic from concept to reality. Now they are ready to engage. The stakes just went up!

So the next time you are conducting a meeting or giving a presentation, don't forget to ask.

• Don't be afraid to be bold. Most participants respect and respond to this.
• Be sure to be direct, don't beat around the bush. Being direct helps to instill confidence and gain support.
• Last of all, be specific and very clear about what you need. A confusing petition will not get the support it deserves.

What about the last presentation you gave? Did you ask? Did you get the support you were looking for? Please let us know by posting a comment below.

Comments

[Bill Branson]

Charles,

Thank you for sharing your ideas. It sounds like you have had a bit of experience with this!

I'd never heard of these concepts put quite this way and found them very useful. I'll try this the next time I am in front of a group.

Thanks again,

Bill

[Charles]

A great way to help people remember new concepts or ideas is to ask them to commit or accept the new ideas. The reason is because after an invitation to change or commit has been extended, the listener, in order to decide whether or not they will accept the invitation has to first go through a mind simulation of seeing themselves accepting this new concept. If they like what they feel or see during the mind simulation they will accept and if they do not, they will reject the invitation. Doing this mind will often raise questions. The reason you want your listeners to go through mind simulations is because it is one of the most effective ways for our minds to remember new information. This is the same reason why stories are so effective in helping us remember new concepts. When a story is used to teach a concept, as a listener we use our minds to visualize the story as it is told (mind simulation). I hope comment made sense. In a nutshell it is another reason why asking for a commitment is important :).