Following up on commitments

- After the brief training is complete,…it's time to report on commitments.…If you've been following the agenda I provided,…attendees will have committed to action items…at the conclusion of the previous meeting.…We now want to receive reports…on the status of those commitments from all attendees.…This process is actually very simple.…The leader, using the minutes from the previous meeting,…reads through the commitments each person made…and asks simply, "Did you do this?"…If the answer is yes,…then the leader can provide a brief response…like "Good job" or "Thank you."…But what if the answer is no?…The leader should then ask something like,…"What got in the way of completing that?"…or "What obstacle did you encounter?"…This is much more effective…than asking a why question…such as "Why didn't you do this?"…Why is a very strong word…and often carries with it the assumption of personal blame.…

We're not looking to shame people.…Instead, we're trying to find solutions…to help people get their work done.…By substituting what stood in the way…