Bernie Michalik's posterous site

In recent cross team meetings that i have been in, this approach has been used to gain commitment from various parties in the meeting. It seems
effective, but i don't think so. For one thing, it is obviously hostile when it is used (even if mildly so). And another thing is that either the person being threatened with it can say "I'm not certain", in which case they will have to be pressed to commit, or they will say "yes" with the intent to back out later. Either way this approach is ineffective.

I think a better approach is to remove the threat and instead state why there is a need for commitment. This is just as effective and provides accountabilty for the person asking as much as trying the get the other person to sign up.