Ever been in a meeting where the harder everyone pushes their point, the more stuck the group becomes?
At Peopleology, we call that a quicksand meeting. It’s what happens when people start defending their ground rather than working together to find solid footing. The more energy poured into being right, the faster progress seems to sink.
Just like real quicksand, thrashing only makes it worse.
Here’s what helps when you feel that pull:
Shift from “who’s right” to “what’s needed.”
Stay curious rather than defensive.
Focus on shared purpose.
Recognise the bigger picture instead of individual wins.
Find firm ground together.
Support each other to move forward rather than pulling in opposite directions.
In quicksand, survival comes from leaning back, spreading your weight, and letting others help you out. In collaboration, success comes from loosening your grip on ego and leaning into shared goals.
Next time a meeting starts feeling like quicksand, try less thrashing and more curiosity, it’s how teams find their way back to solid ground.
At Peopleology, we help teams build the trust and curiosity that keep collaboration moving forward.
