Are You Bikeshedding?

Overcoming the Trap of Triviality

Overcoming the Trap of Triviality

Have you ever found yourself in a meeting where a simple topic, like the color of a website button, sparks endless debates, while bigger strategic decisions are ignored?

If so, you’ve experienced bikeshedding.

Why Do We Bikeshed?

Bikeshedding comes from Parkinson’s Law of Triviality, a concept that describes our natural inclination to focus on the tasks we understand best, even if they’re low-impact.

This often happens when:

• Big decisions feel intimidating. People defer high-stakes decisions, choosing instead to focus on what’s easy to handle.

• We want to feel productive. Spending time debating smaller details creates an illusion of productivity.

• We lack clarity. When people aren’t aligned on priorities, they default to the safe space trivial tasks.

Tactics to Overcome Bikeshedding at Work

To avoid getting caught in bikeshedding during your next meeting, try these strategies:

• Define Priorities Early: Define the target outcome and set boundaries around low-priority discussions.

• Assign Decision Makers: Empower individuals to own specific details.

• Time-box Discussions: Limit the time spent on each topic to prevent over-analysis of minor issues.

Take Action Challenge

🔗 Have you witnessed or experienced bikeshedding at work? If so, share your experience in the comments below…

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