April is the season for kick-off meetings.

I have moderated several kick-off meetings in my career.

A common phenomenon in such meetings is the "no questions asked."

But isn't it 'normal' that 'no questions are asked' at meetings attended by executives?

I am afraid of saying something terrible and getting noticed by the executives.

As for me in particular, I once asked a question that was so off the mark that it made the place feel whitewashed, and I'm still traumatized by it.

I have a "track record" of being marked by executives for asking wrong questions in the past.

Well, at international conferences not attended by my boss or company officials, I turn into a "question-making machine.

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Now, I employed a "negative lottery" when I was a moderator.

(1) At the start of the meeting, I will declare that if no questions are asked within 5 seconds, I will randomly appoint a section head.

(2) I shall nominate a section chief. The nominated section chief can ask questions or reassign subordinates.

(3) The reassigned subordinate must ask questions

This "negative lottery" filled me with a sense of urgency. I had to attend the meeting, thinking of a story that everyone could ask questions about.

My successor seems to have inherited this method (not sure how this year is going).

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The advantages of this method are,

(1) Avoids silencing the field.

(2) The nominated person can feel like they can 'just go along with it' even if they ask strange questions.

This system brings a sense of game into the meeting.

It is evident that "a low-level person will not willingly ask questions at a meeting attended by executives." Still, it seems to me that the concept of assuming this obviousness is lacking.

It is possible to keep meetings running at a moderate level by adding just the right amount of "compulsion" and "resignation.

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One thing I don't want you to misunderstand, however, is that I have little desire to activate the meeting and contribute to the organization. This is just a?

"method I have devised to complete the mission I have been given."