Who presents next

We were all on the call, the agenda item shifting to the next presentation. I could see the little avatars on the screen, everyone quiet. It was that familiar, slightly awkward pause where you wait for someone else to speak first.

The quiet before the spin

I remember thinking how we always seemed to default to the same two or three people. It wasn't a rule, just a habit that had settled in. Someone would clear their throat, and the rest of us would sort of lean back, relieved it wasn't us.That relief was always tinged with a little guilt, though. You knew it wasn't really fair, but the alternative—volunteering or nominating someone—felt even more loaded.

Letting the wheel decide

I shared my screen with the wheel already on it. I'd added everyone's name earlier, just a simple list. "Shall we let this pick?" I asked, my cursor hovering. There was a beat, then a couple of 'sure's and a thumbs-up emoji in the chat.I clicked spin. The names blurred together for a few seconds, a little burst of motion in the middle of our static grid. We all watched it, a shared focus point that didn't require anyone to say anything.

A neutral kind of relief

When it stopped, there was a soft exhale, almost audible. It wasn't the relief of dodging a task, but something cleaner. The decision was made, and it came from nowhere in particular.

The space to begin

The person whose name was highlighted gave a small, acknowledging nod. "Alright then," they said, and opened their deck. The transition was seamless. There was no debate, no subtle negotiation. The space that was filled with hesitation was now just space to begin.

Clarity without discussion

Afterwards, the call moved on. There was no post-mortem on the choice. It was accepted, simple as that. The wheel hadn't just picked a presenter; it had removed the weight of the choice itself.It felt transparent, in a way that human nudges sometimes aren't. Everyone had the same chance, and everyone saw the result happen. That shared witness created a quiet kind of agreement, one we didn't need to talk about.