Scenario: Power of the Pen

As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation: Someone starts capturing the important notes on the white board. They are doing the filtering of what is important without checking with the rest of the team. In other words they are only capturing what sounds important to them.

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

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Comments (15)

  • Avatar

    Kamila Sobel

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    As an action learning coach, I would make intervention and I would ask standard questions:
    How are we doing as a team on a scale of 1 to 10?
    What are we doing well?
    What can we do better?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Flavia Perez

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    I observed that (name of participant) is taking notes on the white board.
    • How can we make sure that taking notes on a white board is a group decision?
    • How can we make sure that the notes reflect the group’s most important insights?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    alicia wellington

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    As an Action Learning Coach, I will intervene drawing attention to my observation by posing the following question(s). Team I have observed participant (name called) capturing information on the white board, how does the team feel about this? Why is it important to ensure that the information captured reflects what the team has agreed upon? How can we make that happen in the team?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Ronald Sifford

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    As an intervention, I would ask:
    – How the group is doing as a whole?
    – What are we doing well?
    – What can we do better?
    -How are we doing capturing ALL the Teams responses on the whiteboard?
    If no one mentions the scribes actions. Then I would share my observation. “I have observed that some Team suggestions have not been added to the whiteboard and ask how does that affect the Team? How can we as a Team improve this process?

    Reply

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    Melisah Feeney

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    This is an opportunity to reconnect with the purpose of action learning being a collective problem solving process. I would first see if any team members notice this so they take responsibility for the group’s problem solving. If this is not picked up I would pose the question:
    – How well are we doing as a group?
    – Why? Can you give me an example?
    – What is the impact?
    – How could we improve?

    Reply

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    Mario Paiva

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    I noticed that not all comments were noted on the board. How does the group feel about this? How can we do better to make everyone feel represented?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Lai Yin Yong

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    I would intervene and ask” Team, I observed some members started to pen down the suggestion in the white board, is it a team decison?’
    “How would the team like to decide now?”

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Anna Sieczkowska - Bałazy

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      As an action learning coach, I would ask the group how do you feel in this situation when X is using his mobile? Next I would ask how we are doing as a team on a scale 1- 10?
      What are we doing well?
      What can we do better?
      If that does not work I would say: I’m noticing that not all the ideas that were spoken and captured on the flipchart? What is the impact of this? How shall we decide what to put on and what to skip?

      Reply

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    Giovanni Friso

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    I could intervene with:
    “Team, I’ve observed someone taking notes at the with board, did anyone else observe this?”
    “What’s the impact on the team when decisions are made without consulting the team?”
    “How can we ensure the team consensus for all decisions?”

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Anna Sieczkowska - Bałazy

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    As an action learning coach, I would ask the group how do you feel in this situation ? Next I would ask how we are doing as a team on a scale 1- 10?
    What are we doing well?
    What can we do better?
    If that does not work I would say: I’m noticing that not all the ideas that were spoken and captured on the flipchart? What is the impact of this? How shall we decide what to put on and what to skip?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Ronaldo Paulo Villamarzo

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    I imagine that I would approach this with a balance of tact and directness. I will begin by mentioning that I have observed that the white board is now serving as the repository of the key points of the session. I will then ask the team members if they think that their thoughts have been captured accurately and completely. If they say yes, then I will let it go. If they say no, I will ask them what changes they would like to make to ensure that their thoughts are captured accurately and completely.

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    YUE TAN

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    I would ask: ” A (the one who is recording), I observed that when you wrote down the team’s suggestion, you only wrote down part of them. Do you notice this?” Find out what does he think about the situation. Then ask the team if they are aware of the situation, and confirm their understanding on it. Then ask: ” What’s the impact of this situation on our team’s discussion?” Then ask:”What should we do as a team?” Let the team realize the importance of respecting each other and achieving consensus.

    Reply

  • Avatar

    YUE TAN

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    YUE TAN: I would ask: ” A (the one who is recording), I observed that when you wrote down the team’s suggestion, you only wrote down part of them. Do you notice this?” Find out what does he think about the situation. Then ask the team if they are aware of the situation, and confirm their understanding on it. Then ask: ” What’s the impact of this situation on our team’s discussion?” Then ask, “What should we do as a team?” Let the team realize the importance of respecting each other and achieving consensus.

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Izabela Maciejewska

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    As an Action Learning Coach, I would ask standard questions:
    How are we doing as a team on a scale of 1 to 10?
    What are we doing well?
    What can we do better?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Andrea Nery

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    I would make an intervention using the following questions:
    “How are we capturing the knowledge of all participants in the group?”
    “Why is it important?”
    “Which is the impact that it has in the team?”
    “How the team wants to deal with that?”

    Reply

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