Parking Space
The Parking Space technique provides a designated area to capture off-topic or tangential discussions that arise during a meeting. This prevents derailing the main agenda while acknowledging important but unrelated points.
Use when discussions veer off-topic or when important but irrelevant issues arise that need to be addressed later.
Solves: Meetings being derailed by tangents, important issues being forgotten, frustration with off-topic discussions.
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Step 1: Designate a physical or digital 'parking space' (e.g., a flipchart, whiteboard, or shared document). (2 minutes)
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Step 2: When an off-topic issue arises, acknowledge its importance and write it down in the parking space. (1 minute)
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Step 3: Briefly explain that the issue will be addressed later and redirect the discussion back to the main agenda. (2 minutes)
- Be sure to actually revisit the parking space items at a later time.
- Acknowledge the importance of the issue before parking it.
- Prioritize the parking space items based on urgency and importance.
- Assign owners to each parking space item to ensure accountability.