Nominal Group Meeting Framework

Overview

A meeting structure designed to eliminate groupthink and coercion by separating the discovery of ideas from the discussion of them. It ensures independent thinking and focuses meeting time solely on areas of disagreement.

Core principle: The best way to get someone's opinion is independently of other people's opinions.

The Process

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. ASYNCHRONOUS DISCOVERY                                      │
│     Send prompt/data to participants BEFORE the meeting         │
│     No reply-all allowed                                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  2. INDEPENDENT OUTPUT                                          │
│     Participants generate ideas/forecasts/ranks ALONE           │
│     Submit directly to leader                                   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  3. AGGREGATION                                                 │
│     Leader collates responses                                   │
│     Identifies areas of AGREEMENT (skip) and DISAGREEMENT       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  4. DISCUSSION ONLY MEETING                                     │
│     Group convenes SOLELY to discuss variance in opinions       │
│     Reflect back what people say (curiosity over coercion)      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  5. DECISION                                                    │
│     Often asynchronous, after discussion                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Principles

Common Mistakes

• Brainstorming live in the room (allows anchoring)
• Letting confident people dominate
• Seeking consensus as the goal (breeds coercion)

Source: Annie Duke (First Round Capital, Decision Science Expert) via Lenny's Podcast