Ask those creating the distraction to move outside of the meeting room, to write notes or to pose the question to the entire group. The meeting leader may not be aware of the distraction. Interestingly, in the legal profession in the courtroom, a sidebar is a private conversation between an attorney and the judge about the case. So a sidebar can be a critical tool for accomplishing work. Meeting transitions are the words, phrases, sentences and questions we use to move a meeting back to its purpose and agenda.
Transitions move the meeting forward without destroying the group s willingness to work together.
Here s a summary. Task Transitions refocus attention on the agenda items. Procedural Transitions change the process of the meeting. Relationship Transitions acknowledge the emotion of a group so that the task or agenda can be addressed. Sometimes emotions run so high that addressing tasks or solving problems can t happen.