Unlocking Better Meetings: The Power of Oscillating Movement

As a professional coach, I’m often asked: “How can I perform better in meetings and gain an extra edge?” The key lies in broadening your perspective and understanding the real needs in the room – not just the items on the agenda, but those deeper motivations.

The Real Challenge

Many meetings focus strictly on the agenda, overlooking what participants actually need. These needs may diverge from official topics, yet shifting focus on these can give us the advantage that supports a better outcome.

Introducing Oscillating Movement

One surprisingly powerful technique is called “oscillating movement.” This involves shifting fluidly between two distinct perspectives during any meeting:

Perspective 1: Stay actively engaged in discussion. Contribute ideas, respond, and focus on concrete solutions – just as you normally would.
Perspective 2: Pause, and mentally step back as if you’re observing the meeting from above. From this “bird’s-eye” view, ask yourself: What does each person truly need? What does the conversation itself need to progress? Make sure to raise these questions for yourself, too.

Shifting between these perspectives—even several times in a single meeting – expands your options and helps uncover needs that aren’t always voiced.

A Practical Example

During a negotiation on the payment schedule for the completion of an industrial complex, our team found itself stuck. Arguments around the specific milestones and deadlines bounced back and forth, with no agreement in sight. When I shifted into the “bird’s-eye” perspective—looking beyond the surface dynamics—I observed that one participant had consistently been left out of the main conversation. His contributions went unnoticed, and instead of focusing on the project details, he was stuck in frustration, because he felt he was not noticed.

Recognizing this underlying need, I decided to address him directly and invited him to share his requirements based on his rich experience in similar projects. This simple act of acknowledgment made a notable difference. He felt respected and appreciated, which transformed his approach from resistance to collaboration. As a result, he provided valuable input that led the group to a payment schedule acceptable to all parties.

The Results

With practice, using oscillating movement becomes second nature. Meetings become more productive, negotiations gain a creative edge, and participants feel heard. You’ll find new routes to consensus – sometimes in ways you can’t plan for in advance.

Coaching Is About Perspective and Possibility

Coaching isn’t about finding one perfect answer. It’s about widening your view, creating alternatives, and making choices based on awareness – not fear.

It’s our job to make a difference that make the essential difference.