The Motte and Bailey (Part 1 of 5)

The Unnamed Pattern

There's a trick in every meeting.

Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

Medieval castles had two parts: the bailey (where life happened—farms, markets, mess) and the motte (ugly hill, stone tower, miserable but impregnable).

Attack coming?

Abandon the bailey. Run uphill.

Your meetings are medieval warfare.

"We need to be strategic!" Under attack? you retreat to "I mean thoughtful."

"This timeline is impossible!" Challenged? you retreat to "It's... aggressive."

Bold claims abandon the field for positions nobody can attack.

Who argues with "thoughtful"?

Make controversial claim → Face pushback → Retreat to truism → Claim victory.

I used to think people did this consciously.

They don't. They think they're "clarifying."

(Watch yourself next meeting. You'll do it.)

Why do smart people flee to intellectual stone towers?

Next: The dark reason everyone retreats. Hint: check the last person fired.