Knowledge Base · Seeing Problems
What is a meeting "parking lot," and how do I use one?
A parking lot is a visible, designated space in a meeting, usually a corner of the whiteboard or a flip chart, where off-topic ideas and issues are written down instead of debated on the spot. It keeps the meeting on its subject without shutting anyone down, provided every parked item is reviewed before the meeting ends.
Meetings get derailed by good points made at the wrong moment. Chapter 3 introduces the Parking Lot as the author's own playbook tool for that problem: park any off-topic idea, question, or issue in a designated, visible space, and return to the main topic.
The facilitator's move is simple and respectful: that is a great point, let us put it in the Parking Lot so we do not lose it, and get back to our main topic. The book names three elements that make it work:
- Visibility: it sits where everyone in the meeting can see it.
- Accessibility: anyone on the team can suggest adding an item.
- Review and follow-up: before the meeting ends, review every item and decide the next step, such as assigning it for research, adding it to the backlog for prioritisation, or scheduling a separate meeting.
The third element carries the tool. Skip the review and the Parking Lot becomes a graveyard for good ideas and loses all credibility. Used properly, it respects both the person's contribution and the agenda, and turns potential distractions into a store of future opportunities.
Related questions
- How do I decide which problem to solve first?
- What is a huddle board, and how do I set one up?
- How do I run a daily team huddle?
Source: Continuous Improvement in the Workplace, Ch. 3 (Learning to See) and the CI glossary in the book's Appendix.