1.5 - About University

T IPS FOR HELPING GROUPS REACH CLOSURE❑❑❑❑❑❑Signs that closure may be needed include: People repeat themselves; the topic isswitched away from the concern at hand; group members seem to be tuning out.Float trial balloons. If you think an issue has been discussed enough, ask, “It seems fromthe discussion that ______ is the way to go. Do you agree?”When you hear consensus being reached in the group, make it visible on a whiteboard,overhead projector, or flip chart. Ask whether your visible notes represent the consensus.Sometimes wordsmithing is all that’s needed.A somewhat risky but effective method is to ask a group member to summarize theclosing statement. You might say: “We seem to be ready for closure. Would someone summarizethe decision? I’ll write it on the white board.”If closure is expected to be difficult, first lead a discussion about the criteria for closure.Note the importance of closure in the group’s ground rules.H OW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL“A great deal of a manager’s work has to do with allocating resources: manpower, money,and capital. But the single most important resource we allocate ... is our own time.”—Andy Grove, ONLY THE PARANOID SURVIVEEvidence that meetings are in need of this tool:✗ Your meetings are getting longer and longer.✗ The group gets 90 percent of the way to a decision, then the discussion drifts back tobackground information.✗ The unwritten question, “Have we got consensus?” has gradually become, “Have wegot unanimity?”✗ Any concern or risk associated with the decision seems to prevent closure.WEB WORKSHEETUse this closure matrix to improve an upcoming meeting. Clarify what methods of closure youand your group will use, and when they will be used.A decision that will needto be made at this meetingPossible closure question(s)How the group might reach closure (√ one):__ Unanimity__ Consensus__ Voting__ Consultation__ DirectiveSECTION 10 TOOLS FOR LEADING TEAMS AND GROUPS 327