Scenario: Non-responsive

As an Action Learning Coach how would you handle the following situation:

The members were enthusiastic to help the problem presenter. They asked many good questions. However, the problem presenter commented its confidential info and would not answer some of the questions. Members felt they were not able to help the problem presenter much if their questions were not answered and they could not see the value of action learning in this instance. But the problem presenter felt the session was useful to him in addressing his problem.

Tags: Action Learning Coach, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk

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Comments (9)

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    Kathleen

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    I would ask the problem presenter to explain how the group at helped him.

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    shiyun

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    I will first ask PP: “Will you please elaborate in what ways you are helped with the questions from team members? Can you give us some examples?” Then, I will ask team members:” if your questions were all answered, what different results or insights you had expected PP to get from the session?” I expect PP and team members can sense the different perceptions and expectations from two sides. Last, I will ask the whole team “when there is a need for keeping confidentiality and a need to feed the team with necessary information to solve the problem, what shall we do to fulfill them both in an optimal way?”

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    BobvdWoerdt

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    As a ALC I would ask the group: Can we use a problem in the Action Learning session when the information regarding the problem is confidential?
    And I ask the problem-presenter: Even the session is helpful to you, what score you give to this session regarding to Action Learning? What in this process was good and what could be better?

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    DrBea

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    I would ask the PP if we had a confidentiality norm would (s)he be able to share more openly?
    If PP said no – I would ask team – How are we doing focusing on the piece of the challenge we can help PP with today?
    Why is it important that we stay focused on the piece that we can be of help with?
    how can we stay focused on the piece of the problem we can help PP with today?

    If PP said yes – What should our confidentiality norm be?

    Happy Coaching
    Bea

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      Hans van Buijten

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      I would ask the problem presenter what he/she would need from the team to be more open in answering questions. How can the team ensure confidentiality? What would the team members propose? What level of openness would they need to make this Action Learning session succesful?

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    Linette

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    I would ask the group how well the group had done and what can be improved?

    I will ask the problem presenter how well he feels helped by the group and for him to cite examples of questions posed during the session which had helped him.

    In the midst of the session, I would ask the problem presenter if having a confidentiality norm help the session. If he refuses to accept a confidentiality norm, I would ask the group how well they feel they can help the problem presenter if they do not have certain questions addressed by the problem presenter.

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    Tiffany Maurycy

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    I appreciate this scenario because it highlights the idea that as a team member you don’t need to know all the context to help someone. It demonstrates the power of a great question. It creates an opportunity for a team member who is feeling uncomfortable with not receiving answers to reflect on what specific need of his or hers is not being met.

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    Sridar

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    I will ask the team on a scale of 1 to 10 how would the members feel about trusting each other in the current scenario. How can the team ensure that the issues raised can be kept within the 4 walls? I will then ask the team if we have an agreement in upholding confidentiality and trustworthiness issues. I will then proceed with the next question.

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    Savin Oeun

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    Hi Team, what will affect to your team discussion if the questions are asking to only problem presenter, then what should we do? Then who ask the next question?

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