Scenario: you are leading a meeting whose purpose is to decide whether or not your company should bid for a new piece of business All the right people are in the room and are prepared to contribute. You have introduced the participants and have discussed why each of them is at the meeting. You have reviewed the agenda, established operating guidelines, and are leading a discussion of the first agenda item, which is how the new price of business could fit into the company's strategic plan. You notice that Bob, the Director of Sales, is not making eye contact with anyone, is occasionally drawing stick figures on this paper, and just softly comments "Who cares how this fits our strategy; our strategy is completely off the mark." You look at your watch. Of the time you have allocated for this discussion, there are three minutes remaining for this agenda item.

Questions:

1. What is your interpretation of Bob's non-verbal and verbal communication?
2. If you were the speaker and meeting host, what can you say to Bob to check your interpretation? If your interpretation is accurate, what would you say or do next and why, given the time constraints?
3. What could have been done before or at the start of the meeting to ensure that all the participants are on the same page? Why would this strategy or approach be effective (or not) in your view?