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Platform as a Service team takes even-handed approach to meetings

Blog posted by: , 7 October 2016 — AccessibilityGDS teamPlatform as a Service.

The Platform as a Service team using hand gestures

We’ve all been in group situations where the discussion is dominated by the most confident or the loudest people in the room.

The less dominant or newer members of the group hesitate to voice their opinion. Others get distracted waiting for the right moment to jump in, only to find that when there is a chance to speak, the conversation has already moved on.

We’ve all interrupted or been interrupted.

In my experience, people don’t dominate a conversation or interrupt others because they are unkind or power-hungry. It usually happens because they’re passionate. And when a large group of passionate people come together, whatever the organisation, there’s a risk that meetings can become a bit chaotic, unfocused and frustrating.

Stephen Hawking said: “Quiet people have the loudest minds”. We must do our best to ensure we create an environment in which everybody’s opinions are heard. The team needs the input of quiet people just as much as the louder ones; we are a poorer team if they don't feel able to participate.

Ushering in a new way of communicating

The use of hand signals in the Platform as a Service team came out of a discussion we had at a retrospective. Our stand-ups and larger team meetings were getting longer and communication was becoming harder. One of our team members suggested hand signals as a way to help with this, and we all agreed.

Our team uses 6 hand signals. They convey:

  • agreement
  • disagreement
  • wanting to talk
  • a direct response
  • clarification
  • point of order, which is used when the conversation has strayed

 

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