from Hacker News

Platform as a Service team takes even-handed approach to meetings

by idlemind on 10/7/16, 10:56 AM with 36 comments

  • by gjvc on 10/7/16, 11:00 AM

    "In my experience, people don’t dominate a conversation or interrupt others because they are unkind or power-hungry."

    Suggests the author needs more experience of the workplace.

  • by wollstonecraft on 10/8/16, 6:32 AM

  • by aisofteng on 10/8/16, 4:47 PM

    I find mechanisms like this to be silly and childish. We're all adults; part of life is learning how to communicate and how to be heard - more generally, how to function in a group. If you haven't figured out how to function properly to the point that you need a system of hand signals in meetings, then it is worth it to look at why your development has been stunted, perhaps with a therapist.

    Similarly to that other commenter who didn't give a reason, I would also immediately start looking for work if my workplace implemented this.

  • by bumblebeard on 10/8/16, 4:02 AM

    I would probably start looking for somewhere else to work if I had to use special hand signals during meetings.
  • by Deepfried on 10/8/16, 7:01 AM

    The hand signal for point of order is very similar to BSL for vagina. I'm not sure they consulted any Deaf people.
  • by cs02rm0 on 10/8/16, 7:46 AM

    The GDS have done some great work. Nice to get a gentle reminder that they're still public sector crazies once in a while. ;)
  • by tomjen3 on 10/8/16, 6:39 AM

    Personally I think they might be more useful as a secondary bandwidth channel: you can now see, while you speak, if the majority needs the point clarified.
  • by transitorykris on 10/8/16, 4:25 AM

    The Lean Coffee hand signals includes a couple others that aren't in this blog post.

    http://www.lovelifepractice.com/practice/using-hand-signals-...

    Another hand signal I've used in large groups is pointing at a person who has a hand up (wants to say something). It's a useful signal to the person speaking and can avoid people stepping on each other to speak next.

  • by Cozumel on 10/7/16, 11:20 AM

    Sounds like an episode of The Office!
  • by MaxLeiter on 10/8/16, 4:53 AM

    Is there a reason they don't use something like parliamentary procedure?
  • by joezydeco on 10/8/16, 4:06 AM

    Love the bunny rabbit signal for "disagree". Very cute.
  • by sgt101 on 10/8/16, 7:03 AM

    No evidence, no credit!