Design for the introvert and for the person nobody thought to design for.

technique — attributed to Mary Boone

Most meetings have been designed for the extrovert in the front row. Boone treats that as a design flaw. An introverted participant may not want to be called on in the open room, and the facilitator's job is to find out privately what would work better, including small group discussions in place of full-room sharing. The same discipline applies to participants whose religious practice, dietary needs, or care responsibilities have not been considered. Boone once redesigned the breaks and meals of an offsite around the prayer schedule of two practicing Muslims in the room. Inclusion is operational, not philosophical.

For facilitators and meeting designers responsible for diverse rooms. The technique requires asking the question early enough to redesign rather than apologize.

inclusion, introverts, accessibility, facilitation