specifics and emotions bring meetings to life
In the game Kerplunk, players remove sticks carefully to avoid releasing a cascade of balls—a metaphor for meetings where teams avoid discussing sensitive issues. People often stick to vague ideas about teamwork and communication, fearing emotional fallout.
However, meetings become more productive and energized when someone openly addresses a specific feeling or conflict. This honesty shifts the room’s dynamic, helping turn abstract ideas into concrete actions by acknowledging our genuine human emotions.
Transcript:
Do you know the children’s game Kerplunk? It involves a transparent plastic tube with a series of sticks halfway up, creating a mesh. On top of this mesh sits a set of plastic balls. In the game, players carefully remove sticks, hoping they won’t be the one to pull the critical stick that makes the mesh fail, causing all the balls to tumble down in a loud “Kerplunk!”
My friend Mark Bloomfield uses this game as a metaphor for what can happen in our meetings, where teams get stuck fiddling with the “sticks” of conversation, fearful of triggering an emotional “downfall.” In this metaphor, fiddling with the sticks means speaking in generalities and abstractions—saying we need better teamwork, less siloed work, or improved communication, without diving into specifics. Meanwhile, the “emotional balls” represent real challenges we face with specific people or emotions that feel unsafe to express.
During a meeting, we can keep fiddling with the sticks, leaving the emotional balls either stuck or teetering on the edge of collapse. I propose a different approach: meetings often come to life when someone decides to address one of those underlying emotional issues. This might mean sharing an unexpressed feeling or naming a conflict directly with someone in the room. Even a simple acknowledgment of an issue can shift the energy in the meeting.
When someone voices a specific concern or true emotion, you can feel the tension change—the meeting becomes more dynamic and engaging. This openness often gives momentum to the discussion, turning abstract ideas into actionable steps. Embracing our real, human emotions allows us to move forward, recognizing that we are complex, flesh-and-blood individuals—not mere automata following a script.
