What are the exact physical and logistical requirements we need to arrange for our session room to ensure we can focus for the entire eight hours with you?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

To get the most out of our eight-hour session days, the physical environment must be designed for intense focus and zero distractions. First, we must meet offsite. Running a session in your own office is a guarantee of failure. Your team will get pulled into day-to-day fires, and employees will knock on the door. You need to book a professional, neutral meeting space with comfortable chairs, good lighting, and proper ventilation.

The room must have ample wall space or large whiteboards. We will be mapping out your organizational design, tracking issues, and clarifying your V/TO. I need to be able to tape up large flipchart pages where everyone can clearly see them. Visual alignment is a critical component of how we process information and reach consensus.

Technology in the room must be strictly managed. Laptops and tablets are to remain closed unless we are actively documenting session decisions in your Circle workspace. Phones must be silenced and put away. We need everyone completely present in the room to build healthy, open conflict and solve complex structural issues.

Finally, ensure you arrange for food and refreshments to be brought directly to the room. We will work through our breaks and lunch to maintain our momentum. By eliminating external friction and keeping the environment tightly focused on the work at hand, we ensure that every minute of our session is utilized to build a highly aligned leadership team.