Part 2: Decoding the 'Vague Yes'

Part 2: Decoding the 'Vague Yes'

In our first article, we introduced the concept of "Brittle Consensus." Now, we'll dive into the first and most common signal that your alignment is weaker than you think: The "Vague Yes."

The Signal: You present a complex, multi-week plan. You ask, "Everyone good with this?" and in response, you get a chorus of "Yeah, makes sense," "Sounds good," or "Mhm, yup." Everyone nods, but there's no specific, clarifying follow-up.

What it means: This is classic lip service. A "vague yes" is a non-committal sound that is psychologically designed to end a conversation. It's an attempt to avoid responsibility. They aren't agreeing to the *plan*; they're agreeing to *end the meeting*.

They might be deeply uncertain about the *how* (the technical plan), the *when* (the timeline), or the *who* (the resourcing). But a "vague yes" protects them. If the project fails, they can (and will) say, "I said it 'made sense,' not that I could get it done by Friday."

How to Convert a "Vague Yes" into a Concrete "Yes"

Your goal is to respectfully pierce through the lip service and turn an implicit "maybe" into an explicit "yes" or "no."

1. The "Recap and Confirm" Tactic

This is the simplest and most effective tool. Don't take their verbal "yes" at face value. Instead, end the meeting by saying:

"To make sure I captured this correctly, I will send out a recap with specific action items: who is doing what by when ."

When you send it (and you must, within an hour), add this magic phrase:

"Please let me know what I missed or got wrong."

This is powerful for two reasons. First, it gives explicit permission to correct you, which feels safer than challenging you in a group. Second, it shifts the agreement from a low-accountability verbal nod to a high-accountability written record. You'd be amazed how quickly "sounds good" turns into "Actually, I can't commit to that deadline" when it's in an email.

2. Ask "What," Not "If"

"If" questions invite "yes/no" answers.

  • "Are you good with this?" (Invites a "vague yes")
  • "Any questions?" (Almost always met with silence)

"What" questions demand substance.

  • "What's one part of this plan that feels risky to you?"
  • "What's the first roadblock you anticipate?"
  • "What's one thing that needs to be true for us to hit this deadline?"

These questions assume there *are* risks and roadblocks, making it safe for people to name them.

3. Name the Next Action

Don't let people leave with a vague "sense" of what's next. Before anyone logs off, go person by person (if the group is small) and ask:

"So, just to confirm, what's your immediate next action item from this meeting?"

This forces a verbal commitment and ensures everyone is leaving with the same understanding of their personal responsibility.