The Oracle’s secret

In ancient Greece, those seeking wisdom would journey to the Oracle of Delphi. But before they could receive guidance, they had to prepare—rituals, offerings, and moments of deep reflection. Only then could they hear the wisdom they sought. What if we treated our meetings the same way? What if, instead of rushing in with scattered minds, we took a moment to arrive, to see each other, and to create the conditions for true insight and collaboration?

The Power of Presence

Before the Oracle of Delphi would deliver wisdom, seekers had to prepare themselves. They would undergo purification rituals, make offerings, and center their minds. The idea was simple: clarity and insight require presence. Without it, wisdom is wasted. The same principle applies to our meetings today. When we rush in distracted, preoccupied, or scattered, we miss opportunities for real alignment. But if we take just a few moments to check in—to ourselves and to each other—we create a foundation of trust, focus, and clarity—key ingredients that fuel creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.

Start a Meeting with Presence

Check-ins help teams slow down, connect, and set the tone for meaningful collaboration. Here are three powerful ways to begin:

1. Gratitude Round

Gratitude is one of the fastest ways to shift energy and build connection. Take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for in this moment. This can be done in two ways:

• Directed Gratitude: One person expresses gratitude for another, passing it along in a circle (e.g., “I’m grateful for how Sue handled that client challenge last week.”)

• Personal Gratitude: Each person shares one thing they’re grateful for right now, with a specific prompt like “What’s one thing in this room that you appreciate?” This helps ground people in their physical environment, which is especially useful in virtual meetings.

2. The Peace Scale

This check-in gives everyone a quick way to assess where they’re at in the moment.

• Rate your current state on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = overwhelmed, 10 = fully at peace).

• Share what’s bringing you to that number and what’s in the gap between where you are and a 10.

Much like the Oracle’s seekers needed to articulate their questions before receiving wisdom, this exercise encourages self-awareness and honesty, allowing the team to recognize where people are emotionally and adjust accordingly. If someone’s peace level is low, it might signal the need to shift the meeting’s focus, explore underlying team concerns, or even postpone the discussion if urgent deadlines are overwhelming the group. This process fosters trust and safety, ensuring that everyone’s state of mind is acknowledged and supported, ultimately leading to better problem-solving and collaboration.

3. Box Breathing

For larger meetings or when time is tight, a collective grounding exercise can help the whole team arrive in the present moment. Box breathing is a simple technique:

1. Inhale for 4 seconds.

2. Hold for 4 seconds.

3. Exhale for 4 seconds.

4. Hold for 4 seconds.

5. Repeat for four rounds to allow the body and mind to fully settle. 4 seconds.

Just as the Oracle’s seekers had to steady their minds before receiving insight, box breathing slows the mind, resets the nervous system, and allows everyone to engage with greater clarity.

Ensuring Clarity

Just as a check-in sets the tone, a strong checkout ensures alignment before the meeting ends. Here are two simple but powerful ways to close a meeting:

1. What Excites Me & What Scares Me

Each person shares two things:

• What they’re most excited about coming out of the meeting.

• What they’re most concerned about.

This reveals unspoken concerns and ensures they’re addressed before everyone moves on. It mirrors how seekers of the Oracle had to leave with not just answers, but the responsibility of action.

2. What is Clear & Confusing

Before wrapping up, each person shares:

• One thing that was clear from the meeting.

• One thing that was confusing or still needs more discussion.

By surfacing misalignments before parting ways, we ensure that wisdom is not just given but understood—just as the Oracle’s words only held power if truly heard and internalized.

Meetings That Matter

A great meeting isn’t about how much gets covered—it’s about how well people connect, understand, and move forward together. By starting with presence and ending with clarity, we create meetings that aren’t just productive, but meaningful. When people feel seen, heard, and aligned, creativity and collaboration naturally follow.

So the next time you start a meeting, pause. Slow down. Check in. Just as the Oracle required preparation before offering wisdom, the best meetings begin with presence. You might be surprised at what unfolds when everyone is truly there.