While most of us might not love meetings, they provide the opportunity for collaboration, decision-making, and problem-solving. But, there’s a hidden dynamic in many organizations that slowly but surely undermines the very thing companies hope to accomplish in meetings and what they depend on to thrive: innovation. This dynamic occurs after the initial meeting ends, during the often-overlooked “meeting after the meeting.” That’s where innovation goes to die.
What Happens In The Meeting After The Meeting That Stifles Innovation?
In many corporate environments, the real discussions don’t always happen during the meeting itself. Instead, they take place afterward, when the meeting’s core ideas are dissected, altered, or even dismissed behind closed doors. This is the “meeting after the meeting,” where participants—often the more vocal or influential individuals—debate the points discussed, cast doubts, or change the course of action without the broader team’s input.
While informal discussions can be a way to clarify ideas, they often do more harm than good when it comes to innovation. The problem is that this unofficial space can quickly become a breeding ground for second-guessing, skepticism, and rejection of ideas before they even get a chance to take root. This dynamic can happen in any group. For instance, consider the project manager who fears getting off task or the sales manager focused on hitting targets.
How Does The Meeting After The Meeting Impact Decision-Making?
Decisions made in the meeting should ideally be based on collaboration, collective input, and a shared understanding of the path forward. However, the meeting after the meeting creates an environment where decisions are often undone or altered by informal, off-the-record conversations. This undermines the decision-making process, leading to confusion and inconsistency.
When people are too afraid to speak up during the official meeting or when they feel the meeting’s outcomes are being negotiated in private afterward, they may withdraw, contributing to a culture of indecision and inertia. Without clear and consistent decision-making, teams struggle to take meaningful steps toward innovation, and ideas get stuck in the idea stage without execution.
People often present terrific ideas, only to be told later, after the meeting after the meeting, that they now are the head of that committee and they won’t get paid to do it. Suddenly, the person with the great idea loses passion for it, and more often than not, that employee doesn’t suggest any new ideas in future meetings.
Can the Meeting After The Meeting Prevent Diverse Ideas From Emerging?
Innovation thrives on diversity—diverse perspectives, experiences, and solutions to problems. However, when the meeting after the meeting becomes the place where ideas are shut down or altered without transparency, it stifles the free flow of diverse ideas. Those who felt hesitant to speak up during the official meeting might find it even more difficult to share their ideas later, knowing they will be dismissed in the aftermath.
In such environments, people start to second-guess themselves and stick to more conventional ideas that won’t rock the boat. Over time, this discourages creative thinking and leads to a lack of fresh ideas. Innovation requires people to be bold, to take risks, and to feel supported in their ideas—none of which can happen if the meeting after the meeting fosters an environment of fear or uncertainty. And fear is one of the main things that keeps people in status-quo behaviors that kill innovation.
How Can the Meeting After The Meeting Lead to Missed Opportunities?
The conversation after the meeting often focuses on what went wrong, what could be improved, or which person’s idea was better. In this environment, small details are magnified, and personal egos can become involved, which ultimately detracts from the bigger picture. Rather than focusing on how the team can move forward and make progress, the meeting after the meeting tends to revisit old issues or personal grievances, stalling progress.
When attention is placed on the minutiae, valuable time is lost, and innovation suffers. Opportunities that could have been seized in the moment are passed over in favor of rehashing old debates. The focus on individual or group dynamics instead of the collective goal leads to missed opportunities for innovation and growth.
How Can Leaders Stop the Meeting After The Meeting From Undermining Innovation?
Leadership plays a crucial role in preventing the “meeting after the meeting” from becoming a productivity killer. The first step is recognizing its existence and the harm it can do. Leaders must encourage open and honest communication in meetings, where everyone feels safe to express their thoughts without fear of being undermined afterward.
One effective strategy is to ensure that discussions and decisions made in the official meeting are followed up with clear documentation and accountability. When people know their contributions will be respected and acted upon, they’re less likely to engage in side conversations that undermine the group’s progress. Additionally, leaders can set an example by openly acknowledging decisions made in meetings and reinforcing the importance of moving forward as a team.
Why Does The Meeting After The Meeting Reflect A Lack Of Trust?
At its core, the meeting after the meeting often reflects a deeper issue: a lack of trust within the team. If employees feel that they cannot speak freely during meetings, or that their ideas will be manipulated or disregarded afterward, it creates an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. Trust is essential for innovation because it allows team members to take risks, share new ideas, and collaborate openly.
When the meeting after the meeting becomes a space for undermining ideas, it signals to the team that their input is not valued, and that innovation is not a priority. Without trust, the team becomes fragmented, and innovation becomes a mere afterthought rather than a core goal.
What Can Teams Do To Shift The Focus From The Meeting After The Meeting To Innovation?
To break free from the destructive cycle of the meeting after the meeting, teams need to make a concerted effort to shift the focus back to innovation. This can be achieved by implementing a few key strategies:
- Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster an environment where people feel comfortable expressing their ideas both in and out of meetings. Encourage people to bring up concerns during the meeting, rather than letting them fester afterward.
- Document Decisions: After each meeting, send out a summary of key decisions and action items. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and prevents the informal “revision” of decisions made in private.
- Create Accountability: Hold people accountable for following through on decisions and tasks. Make it clear that the outcome of the meeting should be respected, and that the team is moving forward with a shared vision.
- Celebrate Innovation: Regularly recognize and celebrate the innovative ideas that come from team meetings. By reinforcing the value of new ideas and creative problem-solving, you can shift the focus away from side conversations and towards actual innovation.
How To Make The Meeting After The Meeting Work For Innovation?
The meeting after the meeting has the potential to do more harm than good when it undermines decision-making, stifles diverse ideas, and breeds a lack of trust. To foster innovation, it’s essential to move away from behind-the-scenes conversations that derail progress. Leaders and teams must work together to create a culture where ideas are respected, decisions are clear, and innovation takes center stage. By eliminating the destructive impact of the meeting after the meeting, organizations can unlock the full potential of their teams, foster creativity, and drive meaningful innovation forward.