Connecting Topics In Meetings

In a meeting, a team may need to cover a wide range of topics. That’s why whoever is leading the meeting is responsible for keeping the discussion moving, ensuring everything can be addressed. But because projects are often complex, figuring out the best order for these topics can be challenging.

To manage these shifts, many people rely on transition phrases like:
On a completely different note…
Let’s switch gears…
We’re going to change topics now…

Sometimes, these transition phrases can be useful as they help reset the energy in the room. They give people permission to let go of the previous subject so they can refocus on something new.

However, when a team is already feeling overwhelmed and stressed about juggling various projects, these abrupt shifts might make things feel more scattered. Jumping between unrelated topics can max out people’s cognitive load and cause them to shut down. In these cases, using more connected transitions may be helpful. 

For example:
This leads us to our next goal…
On a related note…
Now that we’ve talked about _____, we can discuss______.

When our to-do list feels chaotic, even small connections between tasks can make a big difference. If your team seems stretched thin, try using connection-based transitions. They can help everything feel a bit more aligned—and a little less overwhelming.

Author: Bri McWhorter, MFA 
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