Let’s improve our discussion skills! What is the mindset for reducing unnecessary ‘meetings’?

Hello. This is Kamiyama.

It was the other day when I had a meeting with a few people.
Rather than a meeting, we were brainstorming by exchanging various ideas.
Although we don't draw conclusions on the spot, we exchange opinions from various angles.
Then, sometimes unexpectedly, it leads to good ideas.

By the way, what is brainstorming? It's an exchange of ideas without drawing conclusions.
It's when a few people exchange opinions, hoping to induce and chain ideas.
It's often done when thinking about plans or the next business.

Brainstorming is interesting because ideas outside of imagination emerge.
It's good because you can bring in things that are outside of your own thoughts.
If it ends up being only what was originally in one's own thoughts, it's meaningless.

However.

Someone participating in the brainstorm said something like, "I think that's wrong."
One after another, the opinions that came out were sorted into yes or no.

This type of person is sometimes present.
If you're building up ideas with plans already in your mind, then it's a matter of doing it alone.

Brainstorming, to begin with, is not a place for someone to judge yes or no.
It's a place to combine someone else's opinion with your own to create something new.
No matter what kind of opinion it is, it has value.
Once you change your perspective or angle and combine them, hints are born.

Don't be too fixated on your own opinions and lose sight of the original meaning.
Then, it is nothing but a mass of self-esteem, desire for recognition, and pride.

Depending on the time and situation, it can become a hindrance.

However, this is not limited to him.
I think there are many people who are poor at discussions.
Even though I want to generate creative ideas from a whirlpool of abstract opinions, they end up judging.
Just the existence of such types instantly makes the situation pointless.

Be mindful to have constructive discussions properly focused on the key points.

It's the same for regular discussions, not just brainstorming.

The discussion is lengthy, and furthermore, the main points are unclear.
Before you know it, the conversation has strayed from the main topic.
Without understanding the priorities, no answer is ever reached.
It's just constant negation.
Before you know it, emotions are unnecessarily heightened and one becomes ill-tempered.
Conversely, one enjoys speaking too much and it becomes unnecessarily long.

Both silence and talking too much are unacceptable.
Getting emotional is absolutely unacceptable.

In many cases, discussions have an objective.
The objective should be achieved as quickly as possible.

What is the purpose of the discussion?
What direction are we taking and what objective should we achieve?

To achieve the goal, we must accumulate discussions that approach the main point.
To put it extremely, unnecessary interactions for achieving the goal should be reduced as much as possible.

However, if you are not used to discussing, there will be a lot of waste.

The same goes for brainstorming sessions.
Clearly unnecessary opinions hinder the entire process for achieving the original goal.
One might be perceived as, 'How long will this person keep talking about this useless stuff?'

An accumulation of concise, simple, and to-the-point opinions, delivered quickly, is necessary.

Consciously practice how to discuss in daily life.

There are good and bad ways to discuss.

That is precisely why discussion practice is necessary on a daily basis.
Discussions will improve with the amount of practice and experience.

Places where discussions can happen are not just limited to work, right?

For example, deciding the cleaning schedule at home is also one.
Deciding travel plans with friends is also one.
There are many opportunities for discussion in daily life.

Make the most of daily discussion opportunities.
Think about how to achieve the goal of the discussion constructively and as quickly as possible.
Be conscious of what and how to speak for that purpose.

Such daily practice will improve discussions.

Currently, unnecessary meetings have become a big problem, also in terms of raising 'productivity'.
Many people probably have an idea, don't they?
Isn't the large number of wasteful discussions also one of the factors causing low productivity?

There are many things that don't require discussion.
There's no need to share detailed information face-to-face every single time.
Information sharing can also be done online as much as needed.
Nevertheless, the number of times is just repeated as if it were some kind of routine work.

We want to reduce wasted time as much as possible and use our time meaningfully, right?

For that purpose, we need practice in grasping the main points properly and discussing constructively.
If there are people who feel they are not good at this, please try to practice consciously.