The Las Vegas Rule is an informal guideline which dictates that everything said in a meeting remains confidential and should not be shared outside. The aim is to make a meeting private and discreet, to allow the participants to speak freely without fear of external repercussions.

The name of the rule comes from the famous tag line: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas".

Purpose and use

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This rule fosters open and honest communication in professional, social, and informal contexts by ensuring that discussions remain private and unshared beyond the original group of participants.

This rule is used in meetings where confidentiality is essential in maintaining trust and transparency:

  • Scrum and Agile Teams: is employed to ensure confidentiality among team members, providing a safe space for open communication and honest feedback to address mistakes without fear of external disclosure.[1]
  • Corporations: used in corporate meetings, particularly those involving sensitive information or strategic discussions.[2]
  • Activist groups: they use this rule to ensure that sensitive discussions and strategies remain confidential within the group, fostering a secure environment for planning and coordination.

Should not be confused with the Chatham House Rule, which allows information to be used externally but prohibits revealing the identity or affiliation of the speakers.

References

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  1. ^ Salimi, Sohrab. "Las Vegas Rule". Agile Academy. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  2. ^ Gaceta, La. "Qué son las "Vegas rules", la exigencia para hacer las reuniones más íntimas y confiables". www.lagaceta.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-09-07.