This article explains the “Law of Two Feet,” a rule from Open Space Technology that says if you’re neither learning nor contributing in a meeting or role, you should move on. The author shows how stepping out of unproductive meetings or planning a transition when you hit a learning plateau can boost both individual and organizational value.

• Leave meetings when you're neither learning nor contributing—track goals without staying trapped in passive attendance
• When learning curves flatten on a job or project even as contribution holds steady, that's the signal to plan a transition rather than coast
• Backfilling your current role and mapping the next step before moving on reduces the risk of that transition
• Staying past the point of plateau hurts both personal and team productivity, so catching the learning/contribution imbalance early matters