The first time I played the board game Risk with my friends, I made a rookie mistake.

Without thinking about it, we went right into the game. There were no special precautions or plans put in place.

And coincidentally, about an hour into the game, I had to use the restroom.

So not thinking, I got up, took care of business, and returned to the game.

Only it wasn’t the same game that I had left.

While I was gone, the other four players teamed up and agreed to each use their next turn attacking my team, since I was in the lead. Ultimately it didn’t really matter because I won the game anyways, but I learned a valuable lesson that day.

 

In any collaborative environment – whether it’s a group brainstorming session, a negotiation, a game, or whatever –  a break can change the dynamic.

It’s like a timeout in sports. A team can be on a huge run, seemingly overpowering their opponents, only to have everything change after their opponent has the chance to settle down.

That same thing happens in other arenas.

When I left to go to the bathroom, I provided the other players the opportunity to reflect and realize that they needed to come after my team before I ran away with the game. Further, I provided a convenient private environment for them to have the conversation necessary to put the plan in action.

So now, I go to the bathroom before I start a long game.

But beyond that, I try to stay aware of the power of this type of tactic. I’ve used it to my advantage when a meeting seemed to be getting off the rails, and I’ve also seen other parties try something similar on me.

-Brandon