Who's taking the notes

It was one of those moments after the stand-up, when the next meeting popped up on the calendar. We all just sort of looked at each other, waiting for someone to say something. The question of who would lead the prep was just hanging there, unspoken.

The quiet standoff

Nobody wanted to be the one to assign the task. It wasn't about shirking work, but more about not wanting to step on toes or make assumptions. The silence stretched just a beat too long, becoming its own little problem.I remember glancing at my screen, then at the team. Someone suggested we just pick a name, but even that felt like a mini-debate waiting to happen. We needed a way out that felt fair to everyone, including the person who'd end up with the job.

Spinning to a conclusion

Someone pulled up the wheel spinner we sometimes use for lighter stuff. We quickly typed in all our names. There was a collective, almost relieved, exhale when someone hit the spin button.We watched it whirl around, a silly little animation breaking the tension. When it stopped on Sam, there was no discussion. Just a couple of 'sounds good's and a quick message in the chat to confirm. The decision was made, and it was over.

Moving forward

The meeting prep got done, of course. Sam shared the agenda link ten minutes later. What stuck with me was how the energy shifted. That awkward, weighty pause was completely gone.We didn't have to negotiate or justify. The wheel did the talking for us, and somehow, that made it easier for everyone to just accept it and get back to work. It removed the unspoken friction of having to choose.