Articulating Design Decisions, 2nd Edition

Chapter 9. Follow Up Afterward

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Follow Up Afterward

When the meeting is over, you still have plenty of work to do. The time immediately after a meeting is nearly as important as the meeting itself, so don’t rush off and leave everyone behind. Wait and talk to people afterward to debrief and gain insights that weren’t apparent at the time. Informally have one-on-ones with people who can help champion your cause and then follow up quickly while it’s still fresh. This time immediately following the meeting is your best defense against making a decision that could ultimately spell disaster for the user experience of the project. Plus, you might be able to correct some concerns even if you think the decision has already been made. Let’s quickly review some of the things you’ll need to do immediately after the meeting:

• Stick around to chat with people.
• Follow up quickly with your notes.
• Apply filters and remove the fluff.
• Seek out individuals who can help you.
• Make decisions when there is ambiguity.

The Meeting After the Meeting

For whatever reason, people don’t always speak up and say what they’re thinking in front of a group. Often it’s because the purpose is to allow the boss to have his or her say, but sometimes it’s because what people are thinking might be unpopular or risky and they don’t want to upset the status quo. And so they’ll wait until the meeting is over, pull ...