What happens when we have to decide one thing or another in a meeting with 5, 6 or more people? How much time do we waste (and I don't say we invest because that time is never useful) in defining and defending our positions and the positions of each of the meeting participants?

Have you ever felt that meeting after meeting you continue talking about the same thing without defining anything at all?

The Solution

What is the most efficient solution to all this? Replace all this brainstorming with a simple and clear process. Sometimes we tend to think that the freedom to discuss encourages creativity and this leads to the solution we are looking for, but it is quite the opposite, a structured process carried out with discipline creates the conditions we need to be creative.

The process: Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)

It is a simple, structured and time-controlled group decision method.

How to run a LDJ session yourself?

Anything that requires a group of people to make decisions, solve problems, or discuss challenges. It is always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad theme.

Supplies You'll Need

- Rectangular post-it notes, yellow.

- Square Post-its (2 different colors, pink and blue).

- Adhesive Voting Points, 2 different colors.

- Sharpies or something similar (it has to be a thick marker, so that participants are forced to write short notes).

- A timer or any timer that clearly shows the remaining time.

- A good music playlist to focus on.

Ideal group size

To make this exercise worthwhile, you will need a variety of feedback and opinions, but you don't want too many people who make the logistics of doing the exercise difficult. You can technically use the LDJ with only 2 people, although a minimum of 3 is generally recommended.

The ideal size is 4 to 6 people, and the maximum is 8 (any more than this, the whiteboard gets crowded and the sticky notes become difficult to follow). As mentioned above, you can run an LDJ session with as many people as you want, but you will still need to break them into smaller groups.

Total time needed

The times suggested in the exercise are more of a guideline. The exercise itself usually lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. For larger groups (or to address multiple issues) all steps may take up to 1.5 hours.

Do you want us to help you organize an LDJ cycle or learn how to apply this in your company?

Contact us and we will help you!