What it actually means
Something has gone wrong and I need everyone here to share the blame.
Surface meaning: To rally a team defensively around a problem or threat.
If someone just said “Circle the Wagons” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Director: Let's circle the wagons on this incident.
(Everyone joins the war room. Nothing is fixed faster.)
How to respond
Ask: 'What is the one decision we need in the next hour?' War rooms expand to fill available calendar.
Origin
American frontier imagery, increasingly out of taste. Use 'huddle' if you must.
FAQ
What does "Circle the Wagons" actually mean?
Something has gone wrong and I need everyone here to share the blame.
Where did the phrase "Circle the Wagons" come from?
American frontier imagery, increasingly out of taste. Use 'huddle' if you must.
How should I respond when someone says "Circle the Wagons"?
Ask: 'What is the one decision we need in the next hour?' War rooms expand to fill available calendar.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
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