A rule from rugby to improve meetings?

A rule from rugby that could improve meetings…? 

Sounds a bit mad? Maybe not!

The Six Nations Rugby Championship is on right now and so lots of fit men are running after a ball to cheering crowds.

It’s dramatic and entertaining and a great example of teamwork and communication.

One of the rules in rugby is that the ball mustn’t stop moving forward for longer than five seconds in a maul or a ruck. 

And so you’ll regularly hear the referee shouting “use it.”

And if the team with the ball doesn't “use it” possession switches to the other side.

What if this was applied to meetings?

What if there was a system, where a voice, AI or the chairperson, called out “use it?”

It could be applied:

✅ When progress had stalled.

✅ If the meeting is hijacked by one person’s agenda.

✅ To halt someone from interrupting others.

✅ When the same thing is being said repeatedly and new ground isn't getting broken.

✅ To encourage introverts into the discussion.

Who knows how it could refine communication to create a more focused and fairer way of discussing when a group of people come together?

As for consequences, what happens if the “use it” rule is breached in a meeting? 

Here are a few ideas:

1) Make your next point through interpretive dance.

2) Share your next thought only as a drawing on the whiteboard in the style of Salvador Dalí.

3) 2 minutes in the sin bin

What do you think? 

What consequences would you add?

Really, this could become a thing and really sort out meetings once and for all.