# The Pass By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-04-06 Office meetings sometimes conclude with the “around the room” play. In this move, the person conducting the meeting moves from person to person, directing each person to provide a comment. This allows each person to say something about what has just transpired. Maybe a person will comment; perhaps a person will ask a clarifying question. Eventually, a person will attempt to “pass.” Positive or negative comments are accepted without debate. Legitimate and snarky questions are responded to without exception. The pass is a wildcard. Sometimes, the person conducting the meeting will allow the pass as a legitimate response and move to the next individual. Other times, the person conducting the meeting will not allow the pass to stand and will pressure the person to say something. In this situation, at least in my observations, the person who passed has always said something. Almost always, the comment is some version of something that has already been said or is rather superficial. The comment was clearly under duress and didn’t need to be said. But for “everybody” to say something, a response was given. It would be more interesting if the person passing didn’t respond to the second prompting. Or if the person passing responded, “I’ve already passed, I highly suggest you move on now.” Those who pass in such situations likely represent a bimodal distribution. They either pass because they weren’t engaged in the meeting and have nothing to say, or they pass because what they think is too radical for the meeting. They know there is insufficient context for their thoughts and don’t feel the need to “get into it” with those involved. Whatever their reason, coercing a person to speak who responded with a pass reflects a lack of respect for the individual. In the game of meeting participation, most players find it easier to say something. No matter what is said, the game will move forward. It is only when the pass is played that a flag on the play is given. An adage states, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” This rule holds in all places except corporate meetings. #### Related Items [[Meetings]] [[Respect]] [[Performance]] [[Games]] [[Organization]] [[Work]] [[Radicals]] [[Opinions]]