How to encourage my coworker to speak one at a time during discussion?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
4
down vote

favorite












I am a team leader and I have several members, most of the time when I have something to discuss to my members they tend to speak while I'm speaking and because of that our discussion becomes long.



Example:




Me: I notice that there is a bug on the previous function that .....



Him: Oh, I notice that too and it seems appropriate to fix that ASAP.



Me: Yes, but we need to add it to the bug database first and ...



Him: Oh, one more thing I notice that ... etc.




The point is that, instead of talking to so many issues at once I want to encourage my members to just listen first and deal with the problems one at a time.



I've already tell them that we should discuss things one by one but I can't see any improvement at all.



Edit: Those conversation are just small talk or a discussion that should be quick but oftentimes it leads to longer conversations because of that attitude.



Edit: I am much more interested in answers on dealing a one on one conversion so this question seems not a duplicate.







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    Not a dupe, but good advice workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/43358/…
    – Jane S♦
    Feb 13 '16 at 8:07










  • Most of the time it happens during a one on one conversation, but there are times although seldom that it happens in a meeting, I am much interested on how to deal during a one on one conversation
    – Cary Bondoc
    Feb 13 '16 at 13:01











  • If all else fails, this is one of the things Roberts Rules can patch, by requiring that speakers be recognized by the Chair before speaking.
    – keshlam
    Feb 13 '16 at 21:44






  • 1




    Not a duplicate of How to equalize the opportunity to speak during meetings. Read before voting people.
    – Lilienthal♦
    Feb 14 '16 at 18:36











  • It should be noted that this is one of the problems Roberts Rules was explicitly designed to manage -- if folks want to talk to the room they're supposed to ask the chair who will queue up these requests and authorized one at a time, telling the others to be quiet if they're interfering. I often run meetings using an informal version of this, deciding when control is needed and when folks can be allowed to constructively interrupt; I reserve the right to go to the formal rules if folks are misbehaving but rarely have to do more than remind them. This does require the group accept a moderator
    – keshlam
    Apr 29 '16 at 14:01
















up vote
4
down vote

favorite












I am a team leader and I have several members, most of the time when I have something to discuss to my members they tend to speak while I'm speaking and because of that our discussion becomes long.



Example:




Me: I notice that there is a bug on the previous function that .....



Him: Oh, I notice that too and it seems appropriate to fix that ASAP.



Me: Yes, but we need to add it to the bug database first and ...



Him: Oh, one more thing I notice that ... etc.




The point is that, instead of talking to so many issues at once I want to encourage my members to just listen first and deal with the problems one at a time.



I've already tell them that we should discuss things one by one but I can't see any improvement at all.



Edit: Those conversation are just small talk or a discussion that should be quick but oftentimes it leads to longer conversations because of that attitude.



Edit: I am much more interested in answers on dealing a one on one conversion so this question seems not a duplicate.







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    Not a dupe, but good advice workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/43358/…
    – Jane S♦
    Feb 13 '16 at 8:07










  • Most of the time it happens during a one on one conversation, but there are times although seldom that it happens in a meeting, I am much interested on how to deal during a one on one conversation
    – Cary Bondoc
    Feb 13 '16 at 13:01











  • If all else fails, this is one of the things Roberts Rules can patch, by requiring that speakers be recognized by the Chair before speaking.
    – keshlam
    Feb 13 '16 at 21:44






  • 1




    Not a duplicate of How to equalize the opportunity to speak during meetings. Read before voting people.
    – Lilienthal♦
    Feb 14 '16 at 18:36











  • It should be noted that this is one of the problems Roberts Rules was explicitly designed to manage -- if folks want to talk to the room they're supposed to ask the chair who will queue up these requests and authorized one at a time, telling the others to be quiet if they're interfering. I often run meetings using an informal version of this, deciding when control is needed and when folks can be allowed to constructively interrupt; I reserve the right to go to the formal rules if folks are misbehaving but rarely have to do more than remind them. This does require the group accept a moderator
    – keshlam
    Apr 29 '16 at 14:01












up vote
4
down vote

favorite









up vote
4
down vote

favorite











I am a team leader and I have several members, most of the time when I have something to discuss to my members they tend to speak while I'm speaking and because of that our discussion becomes long.



Example:




Me: I notice that there is a bug on the previous function that .....



Him: Oh, I notice that too and it seems appropriate to fix that ASAP.



Me: Yes, but we need to add it to the bug database first and ...



Him: Oh, one more thing I notice that ... etc.




The point is that, instead of talking to so many issues at once I want to encourage my members to just listen first and deal with the problems one at a time.



I've already tell them that we should discuss things one by one but I can't see any improvement at all.



Edit: Those conversation are just small talk or a discussion that should be quick but oftentimes it leads to longer conversations because of that attitude.



Edit: I am much more interested in answers on dealing a one on one conversion so this question seems not a duplicate.







share|improve this question














I am a team leader and I have several members, most of the time when I have something to discuss to my members they tend to speak while I'm speaking and because of that our discussion becomes long.



Example:




Me: I notice that there is a bug on the previous function that .....



Him: Oh, I notice that too and it seems appropriate to fix that ASAP.



Me: Yes, but we need to add it to the bug database first and ...



Him: Oh, one more thing I notice that ... etc.




The point is that, instead of talking to so many issues at once I want to encourage my members to just listen first and deal with the problems one at a time.



I've already tell them that we should discuss things one by one but I can't see any improvement at all.



Edit: Those conversation are just small talk or a discussion that should be quick but oftentimes it leads to longer conversations because of that attitude.



Edit: I am much more interested in answers on dealing a one on one conversion so this question seems not a duplicate.









share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Feb 14 '16 at 9:39

























asked Feb 13 '16 at 7:50









Cary Bondoc

90811028




90811028







  • 2




    Not a dupe, but good advice workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/43358/…
    – Jane S♦
    Feb 13 '16 at 8:07










  • Most of the time it happens during a one on one conversation, but there are times although seldom that it happens in a meeting, I am much interested on how to deal during a one on one conversation
    – Cary Bondoc
    Feb 13 '16 at 13:01











  • If all else fails, this is one of the things Roberts Rules can patch, by requiring that speakers be recognized by the Chair before speaking.
    – keshlam
    Feb 13 '16 at 21:44






  • 1




    Not a duplicate of How to equalize the opportunity to speak during meetings. Read before voting people.
    – Lilienthal♦
    Feb 14 '16 at 18:36











  • It should be noted that this is one of the problems Roberts Rules was explicitly designed to manage -- if folks want to talk to the room they're supposed to ask the chair who will queue up these requests and authorized one at a time, telling the others to be quiet if they're interfering. I often run meetings using an informal version of this, deciding when control is needed and when folks can be allowed to constructively interrupt; I reserve the right to go to the formal rules if folks are misbehaving but rarely have to do more than remind them. This does require the group accept a moderator
    – keshlam
    Apr 29 '16 at 14:01












  • 2




    Not a dupe, but good advice workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/43358/…
    – Jane S♦
    Feb 13 '16 at 8:07










  • Most of the time it happens during a one on one conversation, but there are times although seldom that it happens in a meeting, I am much interested on how to deal during a one on one conversation
    – Cary Bondoc
    Feb 13 '16 at 13:01











  • If all else fails, this is one of the things Roberts Rules can patch, by requiring that speakers be recognized by the Chair before speaking.
    – keshlam
    Feb 13 '16 at 21:44






  • 1




    Not a duplicate of How to equalize the opportunity to speak during meetings. Read before voting people.
    – Lilienthal♦
    Feb 14 '16 at 18:36











  • It should be noted that this is one of the problems Roberts Rules was explicitly designed to manage -- if folks want to talk to the room they're supposed to ask the chair who will queue up these requests and authorized one at a time, telling the others to be quiet if they're interfering. I often run meetings using an informal version of this, deciding when control is needed and when folks can be allowed to constructively interrupt; I reserve the right to go to the formal rules if folks are misbehaving but rarely have to do more than remind them. This does require the group accept a moderator
    – keshlam
    Apr 29 '16 at 14:01







2




2




Not a dupe, but good advice workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/43358/…
– Jane S♦
Feb 13 '16 at 8:07




Not a dupe, but good advice workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/43358/…
– Jane S♦
Feb 13 '16 at 8:07












Most of the time it happens during a one on one conversation, but there are times although seldom that it happens in a meeting, I am much interested on how to deal during a one on one conversation
– Cary Bondoc
Feb 13 '16 at 13:01





Most of the time it happens during a one on one conversation, but there are times although seldom that it happens in a meeting, I am much interested on how to deal during a one on one conversation
– Cary Bondoc
Feb 13 '16 at 13:01













If all else fails, this is one of the things Roberts Rules can patch, by requiring that speakers be recognized by the Chair before speaking.
– keshlam
Feb 13 '16 at 21:44




If all else fails, this is one of the things Roberts Rules can patch, by requiring that speakers be recognized by the Chair before speaking.
– keshlam
Feb 13 '16 at 21:44




1




1




Not a duplicate of How to equalize the opportunity to speak during meetings. Read before voting people.
– Lilienthal♦
Feb 14 '16 at 18:36





Not a duplicate of How to equalize the opportunity to speak during meetings. Read before voting people.
– Lilienthal♦
Feb 14 '16 at 18:36













It should be noted that this is one of the problems Roberts Rules was explicitly designed to manage -- if folks want to talk to the room they're supposed to ask the chair who will queue up these requests and authorized one at a time, telling the others to be quiet if they're interfering. I often run meetings using an informal version of this, deciding when control is needed and when folks can be allowed to constructively interrupt; I reserve the right to go to the formal rules if folks are misbehaving but rarely have to do more than remind them. This does require the group accept a moderator
– keshlam
Apr 29 '16 at 14:01




It should be noted that this is one of the problems Roberts Rules was explicitly designed to manage -- if folks want to talk to the room they're supposed to ask the chair who will queue up these requests and authorized one at a time, telling the others to be quiet if they're interfering. I often run meetings using an informal version of this, deciding when control is needed and when folks can be allowed to constructively interrupt; I reserve the right to go to the formal rules if folks are misbehaving but rarely have to do more than remind them. This does require the group accept a moderator
– keshlam
Apr 29 '16 at 14:01










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
9
down vote













You're the team lead, just cut in to the conversation and ask for one to make his point politely.



Usually if I'm running a meeting I call out whoever I want to speak and don't let anyone interrupt. It's as simple as saying.



"Hang on a minute guys, let John finish, you'll all get your chance."



Then when he's finished ask if anyone else has input on the subject and give them their due attention.






share|improve this answer
















  • 1




    Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
    – Lilienthal♦
    Feb 13 '16 at 18:32

















up vote
4
down vote













Type down an agenda for the meeting; it'll take more time invested in meeting preparation but if you give out an agenda of how the meeting will unfold you're already promoting order and letting them know what the order of the topics will be. At the end of your meeting you could have a "Last thoughts/remarks" for an open discussion moment. Also you can tell your team that while going through the agenda and discussing the corresponding topic only one member can talk at a time and then at the end you can have a 2 or 3 min open discussion about the topic.



You could do this too: Pick a member of your team to express his ideas/concerns, whoever it is, he is the first, and then just go to the one on his right. You can always pick someone different, this will also encourage your members to have their mind set and ready to go a couple of minutes before the meeting, since they don't know who will go first.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    3
    down vote













    You need a conch shell.




    Team members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




    The small talk is revealing that your team is eager to speak about some of these issues. Embrace it, it's a great thing--harness that energy. If you're not using agile development already, you can start an informal process. Early every morning, ask everyone to state what they did yesterday, where they got stuck (if at all), and what they intend on doing today. Call everyone in turn, and bring the conversation patiently back to the person you've given the floor. It is part of the normal stand up meeting in the agile to enforce that




    [t]eam members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




    if you can, move to a formal agile meeting process. If done right and adapted to your team, it will capture that energy in the ad-hoc conversations and move it directly into code improvements.






    share|improve this answer




















    • I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
      – Wesley Long
      Feb 16 '16 at 3:49






    • 1




      I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
      – Ben Burns
      Apr 29 '16 at 10:23










    • More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
      – Ben Burns
      Apr 29 '16 at 10:58

















    up vote
    2
    down vote













    You need to cut the speaker off and let them know that if they would let you finish, their question/concern may get addressed. Another technique is to stop them and let them know this isn't a debate or a discussion, you just need to convey some information at the moment and that there will be a time/place to make these points.



    I know this may sound rude, but when someone keeps cutting you off and you have a job to do, you can't keep letting them get away with this. You're probably working with intelligent people who are paid to make suggestions (hopefully in their areas of expertise) and you want to encourage this, but that doesn't mean they get to do it when it suits them and constantly interrupt you.



    If this doesn't work, you need to pull this person into a private meeting and explain the problem and how it is making communication difficult. Rarely is there anything in a job description that is conducive to making your supervisor's job more difficult than necessary.






    share|improve this answer




















      Your Answer







      StackExchange.ready(function()
      var channelOptions =
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "423"
      ;
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
      createEditor();
      );

      else
      createEditor();

      );

      function createEditor()
      StackExchange.prepareEditor(
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      convertImagesToLinks: false,
      noModals: false,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: null,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      noCode: true, onDemand: false,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      );



      );








       

      draft saved


      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function ()
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f62020%2fhow-to-encourage-my-coworker-to-speak-one-at-a-time-during-discussion%23new-answer', 'question_page');

      );

      Post as a guest

























      StackExchange.ready(function ()
      $("#show-editor-button input, #show-editor-button button").click(function ()
      var showEditor = function()
      $("#show-editor-button").hide();
      $("#post-form").removeClass("dno");
      StackExchange.editor.finallyInit();
      ;

      var useFancy = $(this).data('confirm-use-fancy');
      if(useFancy == 'True')
      var popupTitle = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-title');
      var popupBody = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-body');
      var popupAccept = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-accept-button');

      $(this).loadPopup(
      url: '/post/self-answer-popup',
      loaded: function(popup)
      var pTitle = $(popup).find('h2');
      var pBody = $(popup).find('.popup-body');
      var pSubmit = $(popup).find('.popup-submit');

      pTitle.text(popupTitle);
      pBody.html(popupBody);
      pSubmit.val(popupAccept).click(showEditor);

      )
      else
      var confirmText = $(this).data('confirm-text');
      if (confirmText ? confirm(confirmText) : true)
      showEditor();


      );
      );






      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      9
      down vote













      You're the team lead, just cut in to the conversation and ask for one to make his point politely.



      Usually if I'm running a meeting I call out whoever I want to speak and don't let anyone interrupt. It's as simple as saying.



      "Hang on a minute guys, let John finish, you'll all get your chance."



      Then when he's finished ask if anyone else has input on the subject and give them their due attention.






      share|improve this answer
















      • 1




        Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
        – Lilienthal♦
        Feb 13 '16 at 18:32














      up vote
      9
      down vote













      You're the team lead, just cut in to the conversation and ask for one to make his point politely.



      Usually if I'm running a meeting I call out whoever I want to speak and don't let anyone interrupt. It's as simple as saying.



      "Hang on a minute guys, let John finish, you'll all get your chance."



      Then when he's finished ask if anyone else has input on the subject and give them their due attention.






      share|improve this answer
















      • 1




        Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
        – Lilienthal♦
        Feb 13 '16 at 18:32












      up vote
      9
      down vote










      up vote
      9
      down vote









      You're the team lead, just cut in to the conversation and ask for one to make his point politely.



      Usually if I'm running a meeting I call out whoever I want to speak and don't let anyone interrupt. It's as simple as saying.



      "Hang on a minute guys, let John finish, you'll all get your chance."



      Then when he's finished ask if anyone else has input on the subject and give them their due attention.






      share|improve this answer












      You're the team lead, just cut in to the conversation and ask for one to make his point politely.



      Usually if I'm running a meeting I call out whoever I want to speak and don't let anyone interrupt. It's as simple as saying.



      "Hang on a minute guys, let John finish, you'll all get your chance."



      Then when he's finished ask if anyone else has input on the subject and give them their due attention.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Feb 13 '16 at 9:05









      Kilisi

      94.6k50216376




      94.6k50216376







      • 1




        Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
        – Lilienthal♦
        Feb 13 '16 at 18:32












      • 1




        Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
        – Lilienthal♦
        Feb 13 '16 at 18:32







      1




      1




      Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
      – Lilienthal♦
      Feb 13 '16 at 18:32




      Basically this, but since the OP mentioned that these should be quick conversations the others probably shouldn't get a chance. Instead they should bring up whatever they want to discuss separately through whatever channels the OP prefers (mail, weekly status meeting, etc.).
      – Lilienthal♦
      Feb 13 '16 at 18:32












      up vote
      4
      down vote













      Type down an agenda for the meeting; it'll take more time invested in meeting preparation but if you give out an agenda of how the meeting will unfold you're already promoting order and letting them know what the order of the topics will be. At the end of your meeting you could have a "Last thoughts/remarks" for an open discussion moment. Also you can tell your team that while going through the agenda and discussing the corresponding topic only one member can talk at a time and then at the end you can have a 2 or 3 min open discussion about the topic.



      You could do this too: Pick a member of your team to express his ideas/concerns, whoever it is, he is the first, and then just go to the one on his right. You can always pick someone different, this will also encourage your members to have their mind set and ready to go a couple of minutes before the meeting, since they don't know who will go first.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        4
        down vote













        Type down an agenda for the meeting; it'll take more time invested in meeting preparation but if you give out an agenda of how the meeting will unfold you're already promoting order and letting them know what the order of the topics will be. At the end of your meeting you could have a "Last thoughts/remarks" for an open discussion moment. Also you can tell your team that while going through the agenda and discussing the corresponding topic only one member can talk at a time and then at the end you can have a 2 or 3 min open discussion about the topic.



        You could do this too: Pick a member of your team to express his ideas/concerns, whoever it is, he is the first, and then just go to the one on his right. You can always pick someone different, this will also encourage your members to have their mind set and ready to go a couple of minutes before the meeting, since they don't know who will go first.






        share|improve this answer






















          up vote
          4
          down vote










          up vote
          4
          down vote









          Type down an agenda for the meeting; it'll take more time invested in meeting preparation but if you give out an agenda of how the meeting will unfold you're already promoting order and letting them know what the order of the topics will be. At the end of your meeting you could have a "Last thoughts/remarks" for an open discussion moment. Also you can tell your team that while going through the agenda and discussing the corresponding topic only one member can talk at a time and then at the end you can have a 2 or 3 min open discussion about the topic.



          You could do this too: Pick a member of your team to express his ideas/concerns, whoever it is, he is the first, and then just go to the one on his right. You can always pick someone different, this will also encourage your members to have their mind set and ready to go a couple of minutes before the meeting, since they don't know who will go first.






          share|improve this answer












          Type down an agenda for the meeting; it'll take more time invested in meeting preparation but if you give out an agenda of how the meeting will unfold you're already promoting order and letting them know what the order of the topics will be. At the end of your meeting you could have a "Last thoughts/remarks" for an open discussion moment. Also you can tell your team that while going through the agenda and discussing the corresponding topic only one member can talk at a time and then at the end you can have a 2 or 3 min open discussion about the topic.



          You could do this too: Pick a member of your team to express his ideas/concerns, whoever it is, he is the first, and then just go to the one on his right. You can always pick someone different, this will also encourage your members to have their mind set and ready to go a couple of minutes before the meeting, since they don't know who will go first.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Feb 13 '16 at 16:12









          Just Do It

          8211722




          8211722




















              up vote
              3
              down vote













              You need a conch shell.




              Team members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              The small talk is revealing that your team is eager to speak about some of these issues. Embrace it, it's a great thing--harness that energy. If you're not using agile development already, you can start an informal process. Early every morning, ask everyone to state what they did yesterday, where they got stuck (if at all), and what they intend on doing today. Call everyone in turn, and bring the conversation patiently back to the person you've given the floor. It is part of the normal stand up meeting in the agile to enforce that




              [t]eam members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              if you can, move to a formal agile meeting process. If done right and adapted to your team, it will capture that energy in the ad-hoc conversations and move it directly into code improvements.






              share|improve this answer




















              • I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
                – Wesley Long
                Feb 16 '16 at 3:49






              • 1




                I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:23










              • More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:58














              up vote
              3
              down vote













              You need a conch shell.




              Team members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              The small talk is revealing that your team is eager to speak about some of these issues. Embrace it, it's a great thing--harness that energy. If you're not using agile development already, you can start an informal process. Early every morning, ask everyone to state what they did yesterday, where they got stuck (if at all), and what they intend on doing today. Call everyone in turn, and bring the conversation patiently back to the person you've given the floor. It is part of the normal stand up meeting in the agile to enforce that




              [t]eam members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              if you can, move to a formal agile meeting process. If done right and adapted to your team, it will capture that energy in the ad-hoc conversations and move it directly into code improvements.






              share|improve this answer




















              • I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
                – Wesley Long
                Feb 16 '16 at 3:49






              • 1




                I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:23










              • More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:58












              up vote
              3
              down vote










              up vote
              3
              down vote









              You need a conch shell.




              Team members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              The small talk is revealing that your team is eager to speak about some of these issues. Embrace it, it's a great thing--harness that energy. If you're not using agile development already, you can start an informal process. Early every morning, ask everyone to state what they did yesterday, where they got stuck (if at all), and what they intend on doing today. Call everyone in turn, and bring the conversation patiently back to the person you've given the floor. It is part of the normal stand up meeting in the agile to enforce that




              [t]eam members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              if you can, move to a formal agile meeting process. If done right and adapted to your team, it will capture that energy in the ad-hoc conversations and move it directly into code improvements.






              share|improve this answer












              You need a conch shell.




              Team members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              The small talk is revealing that your team is eager to speak about some of these issues. Embrace it, it's a great thing--harness that energy. If you're not using agile development already, you can start an informal process. Early every morning, ask everyone to state what they did yesterday, where they got stuck (if at all), and what they intend on doing today. Call everyone in turn, and bring the conversation patiently back to the person you've given the floor. It is part of the normal stand up meeting in the agile to enforce that




              [t]eam members take turns speaking, sometimes passing along a token to indicate the current person allowed to speak




              if you can, move to a formal agile meeting process. If done right and adapted to your team, it will capture that energy in the ad-hoc conversations and move it directly into code improvements.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Feb 14 '16 at 5:05









              jimm101

              11.6k72753




              11.6k72753











              • I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
                – Wesley Long
                Feb 16 '16 at 3:49






              • 1




                I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:23










              • More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:58
















              • I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
                – Wesley Long
                Feb 16 '16 at 3:49






              • 1




                I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:23










              • More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
                – Ben Burns
                Apr 29 '16 at 10:58















              I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
              – Wesley Long
              Feb 16 '16 at 3:49




              I was trying to come up with a good Lord of the Flies joke to put in here, but got distracted, and you beat me to it.
              – Wesley Long
              Feb 16 '16 at 3:49




              1




              1




              I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
              – Ben Burns
              Apr 29 '16 at 10:23




              I've attended meetings which employed this sort of tool in the past, and I found it to be to be quite demeaning. Further, it externalizes self restraint, meaning there will be no improvement during more informal conversations. I won't downvote because the tactic does work, but I feel it is quite far from the best approach.
              – Ben Burns
              Apr 29 '16 at 10:23












              More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
              – Ben Burns
              Apr 29 '16 at 10:58




              More succinctly, this is a problem which is best fixed with coaching, not with process.
              – Ben Burns
              Apr 29 '16 at 10:58










              up vote
              2
              down vote













              You need to cut the speaker off and let them know that if they would let you finish, their question/concern may get addressed. Another technique is to stop them and let them know this isn't a debate or a discussion, you just need to convey some information at the moment and that there will be a time/place to make these points.



              I know this may sound rude, but when someone keeps cutting you off and you have a job to do, you can't keep letting them get away with this. You're probably working with intelligent people who are paid to make suggestions (hopefully in their areas of expertise) and you want to encourage this, but that doesn't mean they get to do it when it suits them and constantly interrupt you.



              If this doesn't work, you need to pull this person into a private meeting and explain the problem and how it is making communication difficult. Rarely is there anything in a job description that is conducive to making your supervisor's job more difficult than necessary.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                2
                down vote













                You need to cut the speaker off and let them know that if they would let you finish, their question/concern may get addressed. Another technique is to stop them and let them know this isn't a debate or a discussion, you just need to convey some information at the moment and that there will be a time/place to make these points.



                I know this may sound rude, but when someone keeps cutting you off and you have a job to do, you can't keep letting them get away with this. You're probably working with intelligent people who are paid to make suggestions (hopefully in their areas of expertise) and you want to encourage this, but that doesn't mean they get to do it when it suits them and constantly interrupt you.



                If this doesn't work, you need to pull this person into a private meeting and explain the problem and how it is making communication difficult. Rarely is there anything in a job description that is conducive to making your supervisor's job more difficult than necessary.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote









                  You need to cut the speaker off and let them know that if they would let you finish, their question/concern may get addressed. Another technique is to stop them and let them know this isn't a debate or a discussion, you just need to convey some information at the moment and that there will be a time/place to make these points.



                  I know this may sound rude, but when someone keeps cutting you off and you have a job to do, you can't keep letting them get away with this. You're probably working with intelligent people who are paid to make suggestions (hopefully in their areas of expertise) and you want to encourage this, but that doesn't mean they get to do it when it suits them and constantly interrupt you.



                  If this doesn't work, you need to pull this person into a private meeting and explain the problem and how it is making communication difficult. Rarely is there anything in a job description that is conducive to making your supervisor's job more difficult than necessary.






                  share|improve this answer












                  You need to cut the speaker off and let them know that if they would let you finish, their question/concern may get addressed. Another technique is to stop them and let them know this isn't a debate or a discussion, you just need to convey some information at the moment and that there will be a time/place to make these points.



                  I know this may sound rude, but when someone keeps cutting you off and you have a job to do, you can't keep letting them get away with this. You're probably working with intelligent people who are paid to make suggestions (hopefully in their areas of expertise) and you want to encourage this, but that doesn't mean they get to do it when it suits them and constantly interrupt you.



                  If this doesn't work, you need to pull this person into a private meeting and explain the problem and how it is making communication difficult. Rarely is there anything in a job description that is conducive to making your supervisor's job more difficult than necessary.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Feb 14 '16 at 13:40







                  user8365





























                       

                      draft saved


                      draft discarded


























                       


                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function ()
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f62020%2fhow-to-encourage-my-coworker-to-speak-one-at-a-time-during-discussion%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                      );

                      Post as a guest

















































































                      Comments

                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Long meetings (6-7 hours a day): Being “babysat” by supervisor

                      Is the Concept of Multiple Fantasy Races Scientifically Flawed? [closed]

                      Confectionery