Complex topics need time to understand and to engage with. A meeting-first culture undermines complexity. So slow down. Write first. Talk later. To remember the approach, use WUCA as a mnemonic. 

Write

Understand

Critique

Agree

• Step 1. Write things down in whatever detail possible.

• Step 2. Share the idea with enough time for others to read and understand it.

• Step 3. This is when people drop notes, comments and suggestions into the document. You can use this feedback to refine your idea as well.

• Step 4. If there are open items that need real time discussion, meet by all means. If you get good at being async-first, you may be able to close things out without a meeting.

The great thing about this process is that it’s iterative. You can build on old ideas and you create your team’s knowledge base in the flow of your work.