28 April 2026
Setting the room for a planning workshop
Furniture, time boxes, and ground rules that keep co-owners focused on decisions instead of slide theatre.
A good planning workshop is closer to a working kitchen than a lecture hall. The room should make disagreement visible and decisions writable.
Tables over theatre
U-shape or a single large table beats classroom rows. People need eye contact when they challenge a market choice. Projectors are fine for a one-page agenda; long slide decks invite passive listening.
Time boxes on the wall
Post the day’s decision list where everyone can see it. When a debate runs long, point to the list: either decide, park with a date, or escalate to a smaller owner group after lunch.
Capture live
Nominate one person — often us — to write decisions as they happen. “We agreed in spirit” is how plans dissolve by Friday. Read the list aloud before anyone leaves.
Phones
We ask for phones down during ranking exercises. Breaks exist for messages. Owners who must take a call step out rather than half-listen at the table.