Use “Double-Loop Learning” for Better Board and Staff Meetings
Double loop learning interrupts bad decisions.
Have you ever been sitting in a meeting and someone suggests something an obviously bad idea?
You look around at others in the meeting and either people aren't paying attention, don't care, or are afraid to speak up.
So everyone nods and the idea gets moved forward or implemented. And later, these same people realize the idea was never well-thought-out or strategic.
Of course, you have been in this meeting. Maybe the idea was yours. I know I've suggested bad ideas in my career! :)
But the problem isn’t whether an idea is good or bad. It’s all about how we respond to it, especially when we’re in a group meeting. As nonprofit leaders, it’s our job to always be improving - and part of that is making sure we and our teams are making smart and thoughtful decisions.
Enjoy better meetings!
The Challenge of Group Dynamics
The truth is we don't behave at our best when we are in groups. Groups can be lazy. It's called "social loafing." It's why everyone jokes about getting stuck with all the work during team projects in school or work.
It's the same reason why some people skip board meetings or why staff neglect to offer comments on team documents. It's the reason why people on crowded streets are less likely to stop for someone in need.
Each person thinks that other people in the group will help out enough so their own participation is less vital.
Other factors that impair group decision-making include peer pressure, social norms, and groupthink. Social science research also tells us that we tend to subconsciously obey authority, even when it isn't wise to do so.
Make Smarter Group Decisions with Double Loop-Learning
We face decisions every minute of every day. Every time we prioritize something we are making a decision. But group processes, discussions, and decision-making are fraught with opportunities for errors in judgment.
To counter this, I recommend using something called “double-loop learning.”
Double-loop learning has become a standard best practice for my teams. Here’s why.
Single-loop learning is when we observe something we want to change, and then we change it. This is a common form of observation and learning.
In contrast, double-loop learning is thinking about how we think. A common question used to step back and do this is to ask “are we doing things right, or are we doing the right things?”
With teams, it is good to step back at the end of every meeting and take a gut check about the way your meeting ran and how your processes, norms, and decision-making worked - or didn't. You can literally add "double-loop" to the agenda as the final item.
This process forces the group to interrupt the norms of a meeting and gives them a second quick opportunity to make better decisions and be more thoughtful.
How to Use Double Loop Learning in Nonprofit Meetings
I recommend making double-loop learning a consistent practice at the end of every staff meeting, board meeting, committee meeting, and even coalition meeting.
For example, at the end of a board meeting, the Chair could lead the group in a 5-minute process where they say,
“OK, How did this go for everyone? Are our meetings structured so people feel comfortable disagreeing? Did anything feel rushed? Did we set in motion any decisions today that may conflict with our values, norms, or commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion?”
Organizations that create space to think about how they think (and behave) are flexible, open, accessible, transparent, and even transformational.
I use this process in my own nonprofit and our staff has found it invaluable.
