Scenario: Moving On
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
A participant asks a question of everyone and after a single answer another question is asked and the team moves on.
Tags: Action Learning Coach, WIAL Action Learning
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Tom Janiak
| #
I would do an intervention and ask:
1. How are we doing as a team?
2. What are we doing well?
3. What can we do better?
4. I have observed that a question has been asked of everyone and only 1 person answered. Has anyone else observed this?
5. What is the impact of this on the team?
6. How do we want to handle it?
7. What would the impact of doing that be on the team?
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Ignatius Sharma
| #
I would ask the team – How are we doing as a group so far, on a scale of 1 to 10?
And – What could we do better?
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vganesh
| #
Action Learning is all about an exercise which is team orientated and only total participation from the team would lead a better understanding of the core problem and solution.
As a ALC I would intervene and ask the following questions:
a) How are we doing as a Team?
b) How could we do better?
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Florence Wan
| #
Since there is low participation from the team to a question, I would intervene with the following:
1. How are we doing as a team so far? (Rate from 1 to 10).
2. What have we done well as a team so far?
3. What can we do better as a team?
4. I have observed that a question has been asked of everyone, and only 1 person responded. Did everyone observe this?
5. What is the impact of only 1 person responding in a team?
6. How would we as a team want to handle this low participation?
7. What is the impact of doing so be to the team?
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azri amin
| #
i would ask what is the impact to the whole team if and to the problem presented if the question is moved on
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PeterSeah
| #
A question is asked to the group for their answers. The situation is worth intervening when the learning point is that the group is not contributing their collective wisdom and experiences to the question asked. As a coach I would look for whether the team is merely doing “One Question asked and 1 answer” routine, which defeats the essence of Action Learning in team learning and problem solving.
When that situation is clear, I would intervene to ask group if the question has been answered and what could the group do more.
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Dennis Sanko
| #
If the first answer was substantial and it is apparent that the potential of the question is covered, while the second question clearly resonates with the team, I would not intevene.
I would intervene though if it would be apparent that not all the team members provided their answers: “Who else would like to provide the answer to the previous question before moving on to the next one?”
Surely, if I would have a “low participation” situation, I would go with the “Question Sequence” or “Sequence for handling difficult situations”.
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Wendy Teo
| #
I would intervene and ask the team if they have all answered the question. and let the team continue to go round the table to answer the question. I would then note this down and highlight this as learning opportunity during team reflection. During the reflection phase, I would ask the team: “How would this situation impact the team effectiveness.”
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Lan Nguyen
| #
This is a very common question and usually among particpants who are new to AL.
I would take this opportunity to intervene and offer a learning opportunity for participants to be specific with their question and be aware of the impact their question can have on the group and process. (Asking that one question is more like asking the same question to each member of the group before anyone else has a chance to ask a question) I would say, ” Before we move on to the next question, Jane’s question was asked to everyone in in the group. Only Mike has answered. Let’s give everyone a chance to answer.”
I would then debrief this at the end of the session with a question similar to Wendy’s question, “What impact could this have on the team and what what does the team suggest to improve the effectiveness of the team and the discussion?”
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Marisol Lopez
| #
I agree with Wendy. Definitely a learning opportunity for the Team to do what they said they would do. The question must have been important if it was agreed that everyone will answer. The oversight can be brought up again during the team reflection if this situation also happens in the workplace and what lessons can now be applied for better team performance.
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DrBea
| #
Definitely a common learning opportunity.
I would start with the 3 standard questions –
How are we doing as a team? What are we doing well? What can we do better?
Assuming no one mentioned this situation, I would follow with –
How are we doing with allowing everyone the opportunity to ask a question posed to the team before moving on?
Why is it important that we here multiple perspectives?
How can we be sure as a team to allow everyone the opportunity to respond to question posed to the entire team?
It would not be my place to judge if it was adequately answered – my place is to observe how they are processing and support the team from that perspective.
The sequence of I observed could be used equally well in this circumstance –
I’ve observed we’ve moved on to another question before everyone had an opportunity to weigh in on the one posed to the entire team. Did anyone else notice that?
What is the impact on the team of moving on after the first response is shared?
How can we be sure all voices are heard within this team?
Happy Coaching
Bea
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Joseph
| #
I would probably ask “How can we be sure sufficient opinion being heard within the team? How can we do better?”
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Siwaporn Boonchu
| #
As a Action Learning coach, I would intervene with SID by
1. How are we doing with giving the opportunity to the team member who waiting for the respond?
2. What would happen if there is only one person responded while this question is for everyone?
3. So what could we do better as a team?
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Yesong Yang
| #
As an action learning coach, step in and ask questions:
Ask each member, up to now, between 1 to 10 points, how do you evaluate the performance of the team?
What did the team do well? What else?
What can be done better? What else?
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