You've been in the meeting for forty-five minutes. Someone is presenting slides that could have been an email. The discussion is going in circles. No one knows what the decision is.
Then someone asks one question.
"What are we deciding?"
Suddenly everything stops. People look up. Someone tries to answer. A debate starts about whether this is even the right decision to be making. And within two minutes, you either have clarity or you realize the meeting should have never happened.
Why This Question Works
Most meetings don't start with a clear question. They start with a topic. Topics invite discussion. Discussion without a decision frame produces noise.
When you ask "What are we deciding?" you're forcing the room to get specific. You're asking: "What exact outcome are we walking out with?"
If the answer is fuzzy, the meeting is fuzzy. If the answer is clear, the meeting can be short.
How to Use It
Ask it early.
The best time to ask this question is in the first five minutes. Don't wait until the end when you've already spent an hour on the wrong thing.
Keep asking it.
If the discussion drifts, ask again. "I want to make sure we stay focused — are we still deciding X, or has that changed?"
Use it to end meetings.
If no one can clearly state the decision, the meeting is over. "It sounds like we need more information before we can make this decision. Let's reconvene when we have it."
The Impact
You will become known as the person who ends bad meetings. Not by being difficult — by being the one who gets clarity.
The next time you're in a meeting that feels off, wait for a pause and ask: "What are we deciding?"
Watch what happens.
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