Stop wasting your time in meetings.

Stuck in Meeting Gridlock?
Unlock the Problem with this Simple 3-Column Fix

Simple solution for a not-so-simple problem from the forthcoming book: The Meeting Fix-It Guide

The Problem

Ever been in a meeting where everyone agrees something needs to change, but the conversation just circles endlessly? You're not stuck because people disagree—you're stuck because you're trying to solve everything at once.

The Solution: Use a Consensus Building Matrix

Here's a deceptively simple tool that transforms overwhelming discussions into manageable progress:

Draw three columns,

Have the group fill out the colums,

That's it!

How It Works

Start with agreement - "What do we all agree on about this proposal?"

Surface concerns - "What worries or questions remain?"

Generate solutions - "How might we address each concern?"

Why it Works

The Secret Ingredient is "Fractionalizing"

The magic happens because you're breaking one big problem into smaller, solvable pieces. Instead of debating the entire proposal at once, you:

✓ Lock in areas of agreement (so you don't relitigate them)

✓ Name specific concerns (not vague worries)

✓ Match solutions to problems (one at a time)

It separates acknowledgment from problem-solving. When people see their concerns captured in Column 2, they relax. When they see that you're generating solutions (not arguing), they engage. When agreement in Column 1 grows, momentum builds.

Most importantly: you move from "Do we?" to "How do we?"

Try It Next Time

When your next meeting starts spinning in circles, sketch these three columns. Start filling them in together. And move your team from stuck to unstuck.

Coming by the middle of the year (I hope!)

Want 136 more meeting fix-it tools like this? Stay tuned for The Meeting Fix-It Guide: How to Turn Around Crummy Meetings—Even When You're Not in Charge