Who presents next?

We were planning the quarterly project review, and the usual awkward silence about who would present the first section was hanging in the air. I’d set up the wheel with everyone’s name on it earlier, just to have it ready.

The quiet before the spin

You could feel the slight tension, the unspoken hope that it wouldn’t be you. I clicked the button, and the wheel started its slow, deliberate turn. Everyone watched it, but no one said a word.It was one of those moments where a simple tool does all the talking. The whirring sound was the only thing in the room for a few seconds.

When the decision wasn't a debate

The pointer settled on Sam from the design team. There was a brief glance around the table, a couple of small smiles. Sam just gave a quick nod and made a note on their pad.That was it. No discussion, no ‘maybe someone else is better suited,’ no negotiation. The decision was made, and we moved right on to the next agenda item. The energy in the room shifted from hesitant to productive almost instantly.It felt fair in a way that human discussion sometimes struggles to be. The randomness of it removed any perception of bias or pressure from me or anyone else.

A tool for the group, not a rule from above

It wasn’t about me assigning a task. It was the group accepting an outcome generated by the wheel, which felt completely different.

The relief of an external arbiter

There’s a real comfort in letting chance decide the small things. It frees up so much mental space for the actual work.