Scenario: Rapid Fire

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

Someone asks a series of questions without waiting for an answer.

Tags: WIAL Action Learning

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Comments (14)

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    Edwin Sim

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    I will ask the person a coupe of clarifying questions:-

    1) How many parts are they to your question?
    2) How can you help the team members to better understand your question?

    I might also consider asking the team:-

    1) Team, what will be helpful of you, in the way questions are asked/phrased?
    2) How would you like the questions to be phrased?

    Edwin

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      Sofia Georgiadou

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      As Bernadette suggests I would initially give some space to the group to identify and handle. If not handled by the group, I would intervene as suggested by Edwin.

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      Abhinav

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      I would intervene by asking What is the impact on the group if someone keep on asking questions without waiting for the answer?

      Abhinav

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    Bernadette Chua

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    I would wait for the participant to finish the process of asking the series of questions before intervening. If he/ she catches himself/ herself in the process or if the group reacts to the rapid firing of questions, then intervention is not needed. If the group attempts to answer the series of questions, then I would intervene by asking the participant “which question would you like the group to address first?”

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    Scott Eade

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    Testing Wial Talk log on

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    Saan Ecker

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    I agree with Bernadettes approach. Failing that, and presuming that the group doesnt intervene and this participant just keeps asking questions, I might check in with the group, how are we going as a group, what’s working well, what could work better and/or ask the question ‘what happens for the group when questions are asked but not answered?’

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    heathertan

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    I agree with Bernadette’s approach. Like Saan, I will intervene further if this team member continues with rapid fire of questions and the group doesn’t intervene. I will ask “How are we doing in terms of asking questions? What are we doing well? What could we do better? What can I do to help the team answer my questions if I have more than 1 question to ask”

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    Chris Gripton

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    In this situation I would ask the person to review what is the question that they really want to put to the team and then have them re-ask that question to the team or a participant in the team. Create the atmosphere that promotes the asking of great questions – I do not believe as a once off that you need to do an intervention to the team, however this will depend on the next question or question(s) asked by that person. If this pattern of behavoir continues then a timely intervention will be required.

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    DrBea

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    This would depend on the exact situation. If it was one of those folks that has trouble stopping once they start talking and so are guising statements as a series of questions – I would say, “Ok – so in 1 sentence – what is the question you would like an answer to.

    If it was more an excitement and a true flood of curious questions –

    I too would wait and see if this worked itself out. During a routine check in I would ask the standard 3 questions:

    How are we doing on a scale of 1 – 10?
    What are we doing well?
    What can we do better?

    If no one brought up the questions without a chance to answer, my sequence would be as follows –

    I’ve observed a number of great questions, being moved off of before we’ve had a chance to respond. Did anyone else notice that?
    What’s the impact on the team of leaving great questions unanswered?
    How will we make sure we give time for someone to answer the questions on the table?

    Happy Coaching
    Bea

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    Stephanie

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    I would first wait to see how the responds to this. I may intervene by asking, “What is the question we are answering?” If the participant continues to asking multiple questions I would see if this is brought up during reflection when the team is answering the “What can we do better?” question. Otherwise, I may say that I’m noticing that multiple questions have been asked at once……and what is the impact of this…..and how do you wish to address it?

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    Han Ee

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    “Sounds like your question has a couple of dimensions to consider, which question would you like the team to answer first?”
    It would also be interesting to hold off the intervention first and go with Stephanie’s recommendations, i.e. wait and see how the team responds to the rapid fire questions.
    “Is this common at the workplace?”
    “What is the impact on team dynamics?”

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    Angela Chen

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    I would ask the team, “I’m noticing that multiple questions have been asked, and how are we doing in terms of asking questions?” “What is the impact of asking multiple questions?” “Do we need clarification on the questions, yes or no?” Furthermore, I would ask, “If there is one question that could help our team move forward effectively, which one will it be?” Then I will check with the team, “What helped us make progress? What hindered us?” Finally, I will ask the team to reflect, “What helped us learn as a team?” After the team replies and reflects the situation, I would help the team to learn to propose one question at a time to avoid obscurity.

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    Myrte van Grieken

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    As Dr. Bea already describes it is very nice not to cut down what happens, but to let the team understand how they work together. What are we doing an a scale of 1-10? Nice te ask.
    What question does the session continue? Then create space for an answer.

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