The quiet moment before the wheel spins

It was one of those afternoons where the meeting had stalled. We were all looking at the same problem, but no one wanted to be the one to make the call. The silence was heavy, the kind that makes you check the clock.

When the conversation just stops

You could see it on everyone's faces. We'd gone around the table twice, and each suggestion was met with a polite but firm counterpoint. It wasn't about being difficult; it was about fairness, about not wanting to impose.The energy was draining right out of the room. I remember thinking we'd be there all day, and that familiar knot of frustration started to tighten in my stomach.

Letting something else decide

That's when I pulled up the wheel on the shared screen. I didn't present it as a solution, just as a pause. "Let's just put the options here and see," I said, trying to keep my voice light.There was a collective, almost physical, release of tension when I hit spin. The responsibility was momentarily lifted from our shoulders. We were all just watching this digital arrow bounce between segments.

The relief of an impartial pointer

When it landed, there was no debate. No one had to defend their choice or feel overruled. The decision belonged to the wheel, and that was that.

A path cleared

We all leaned back in our chairs. The blockage was gone. We had a direction, and more importantly, we had our collaborative spirit back. We could finally start building on something.

Moving forward together

The rest of the meeting was productive, almost brisk. We were aligned because the method of choice felt neutral. It removed the personal friction.Afterwards, someone joked that we should use it for choosing lunch places, too. That little laugh, that shared moment of relief, was the real win. It wasn't about the wheel itself, but about the space it created for us to be a team again.