Has this happened to you?
You’re meeting with a group of smart and motivated people, brimming with ideas about how to develop or improve a policy, program, or organization.
There’s a sense of shared purpose, the discussion has a gratifying flow, and the atmosphere is infused with possibility.
And then after the meeting… nothing changes.
There are fires to put out, other appointments to attend, and day-to-day tasks to complete.
A follow-up meeting takes place six weeks later, but little has been accomplished since you first met.
The initial excitement is long gone, replaced with a mixture of guilt and overwhelm at the task at hand.
Everyone has the post-brainstorm hangover: that feeling of muddled confusion that comes from having too many ideas bouncing around without direction.
What’s wrong here?
These people obviously aren’t slackers. And they’ve clearly demonstrated commitment to the initiative.
A simple 15-minute tool—the public personal commitment—can give you the momentum you need to launch projects and implement strategic plans, regardless of your own role in the group.
(I first learned about this approach to closing meetings at Living Giving Enterprises’ fantastic Journey to Group Power facilitation course.)
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Give everybody 2 minutes to write down 2 specific actions they will take in the next 2 weeks. If you’re meeting in person, use sticky notes or index cards. Virtual participants can simply take notes as they wish—no need to post anything online yet.
Step 2: Everyone takes 2 minutes to schedule these tasks in their calendar—ideally at the beginning of the day. These tasks should be treated just like another meeting or appointment. This means that if a conflict comes up, the tasks must be rescheduled!
Step 3: Pairs take 4 minutes to share their actions, reflect on potential challenges, and discuss ways to help one another.
Step 4: Pairs schedule a 15-minute check-in on a date after the tasks have been scheduled.
Step 5: Each person shares their commitments with the full group, and others volunteer to help where needed.
Step 6: Written commitments are recorded for all to see. Here are some effective strategies I’ve used with other groups:
- Place sticky notes on a wall or flipchart, and keep them on display in your meeting room.
- For remote meetings, use online tools like a Whiteboard or Mentimeter for people to post their commitments.(Be sure to take a screenshot for future reference.)
- Create a channel on Teams or Slack for people to post their intended actions, and invite your team to celebrate when work is done.
Why is this so effective?
First, it requires people to articulate concrete actions rather than express vague intentions.
Second, it puts long-term projects on equal footing with daily tasks by securing calendar space.
Third, it addresses potential barriers before they arise.
Finally, it creates a sense of individual accountability and shared responsibility.
Don’t let another promising initiative fade into the realm of “someday.”
By dedicating just 15 minutes in your next meeting to public personal commitments, you can transform collective enthusiasm into concrete progress.
The path from ideas to impact starts with small, scheduled steps. Your next meeting is the perfect place to begin.
And whether you need facilitation support, project leadership, or a strategic plan, I’m happy to help.