Too Fast Too Slow

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Identify specific points where agenda pacing lost people and establish an immediate signaling method to adjust speed.

Use it when: Midway through a training or presentation block when audience energy drops or general questions meet silence.

Skip it when: At the very start of a gathering before any content has run, or in quick standups with rigid timeboxes.

Group arrangement: Pairs, with an optional trio if numbers are odd, followed by whole-room discussion.

Timing: Relationship Makers Handbook notes under 5 minutes; structured here as a tight 5-minute intervention.

Materials and tools

• Visible timer
• Flipchart or whiteboard with dry-erase marker

Before participants arrive

1. Have a clear writing surface ready to note the agreed signal or pace volunteer.

Say this to open

Let us check our speed before we continue. Turn to your neighbor and share one specific moment so far that moved too fast, and one that moved too slow. You have two minutes in pairs.

How to run it

1. Pair pacing check 2 minutes

   Participants turn to their neighbor. Each person names one segment that moved too fast and one that moved too slow. If an odd number is present, form one trio. Keep voices at conversation volume. Stop when the timer sounds.

2. Hear examples 1 minutes

   Ask for two brief examples from volunteers across the room. Keep comments focused on agenda sections rather than general feelings. Example: 'The budget spreadsheet went too fast to read the columns, but the introductions took too long.'

3. Agree on a signal 1 minutes

   Propose a simple signal for anyone to use during upcoming blocks, such as raising an open hand for 'slow down' or a roll motion for 'speed up'. Alternatively, ask if the group wants one volunteer to act as a pace steward who monitors the room and flags the facilitator.

4. Confirm and resume 1 minutes

   Write the chosen signal or the pace steward's name on the board. Confirm that anyone may use the signal without needing to explain or defend it. Resume the main agenda.

Debrief questions

• What topic coming up will need our most careful pace?
• How will we make sure our agreed pace signal actually gets used?

Finished output: An agreed-upon room signal or appointed volunteer to regulate session speed for the remaining agenda.

Remote

Put participants into pairs using breakout rooms for 2 minutes, or have everyone type their fast/slow observations into private notes. Reconvene in the main room, ask two people to unmute or type in the chat, and set a digital reaction (such as the coffee cup icon for slower or thumbs-up for on-track).

Hybrid

Pair in-room participants with nearby room neighbors and pair remote participants in virtual breakout rooms. Gather one example from the room and one from the chat. Select a pace signal that works across camera and room, such as typing 'pace' in the text chat or holding up a hand.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may pass on speaking during the pair check and simply listen.
• Written input via sticky note or text chat is accepted in place of spoken feedback.

If the session gets stuck

Participants turn the pair talk into a wide-ranging critique of meeting content.

Remind the room to focus strictly on speed: which slides or topics were rushed, and which dragged.

No one wants to volunteer as a pace steward.

Default to a simple shared hand signal or chat keyword so no single person carries the responsibility.

Terms used here

• Pace steward: A designated participant who speaks up on behalf of the group when the facilitator is moving too quickly or slowly.