Scenario: Confirming Thought (2024)
Tags: Action Learning, ActionLearning Coach, Team Coach, WIAL, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk
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Tags: Action Learning, ActionLearning Coach, Team Coach, WIAL, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk
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Ilona Patrycja
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If it were the first such situation in the group, I wouldn’t react. The participant ended their statement with a question, and the group has the opportunity to respond to their statement.
If the situation repeated, in accordance with the second rule, I would pause the group’s work and say: “I noticed that statements are being made that don’t answer any of the previously asked questions. How does this affect our work?” After hearing from the group, I would add the question, “How will we ensure that such situations do not reoccur?”
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Sarah Tennyson
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I agree with Ilona’s response. My intervention would also change depending on the timing of when this occurred and whether I was noticing it as a repeated pattern. I would look for an opportunity to help the group become aware of asking open v. closed questions and help improve their performance as a group.
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b t hang tuah baharudin
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It depends on the type of statement made, before the question. Sometimes, it is just a short statement and a question at the end is to seek confirmation. Normally it will lead to a more desired question from the same team member. In this case, I would normally let it be.
Secondly, if the statement is long and elaborative, I would stop the team member and request him or her to phrase it into a question. I will also remind the team the ground rules of AL just to refresh everyone. Sometime depending on the situation, to interupt midway will cause an interuption to the train of thought of the person asking the question, so I will remind the ground rules of AL at the end of the sentence.
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Amar PATEL
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Ask the team:
• Is there value to the team for this query to be phrase in an open question format?
• Why / Why not?
• How does the team want to proceed?
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Angela Scurlock
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It depends on which part of the session in which this occurs. If it occurs in the first 10-15 minutes of the session, I would use the question “How are we doing as a team on asking open-ended questions?” during the first check-in.
If it is after the first check-in and it is the first occurrence, I would just note it. If it happened a second time I would intervene with the same question “How are we doing as a team on asking open-ended questions?”
If we are in the take action stage I would not be as keen to intervene for this behavior unless it is repetitive. This method of questioning may be useful to clarify an action item.
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Kant Srithundorn
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In this situation, there can be three scenarios: “Agree,” “Disagree,” or “Ignore.” So, if someone agrees or disagree and the team has a tendency to identify solutions, the coach will intervene with asking team “What is currently happening?” and “What they want to work on together next?”. Before I let them continue working in the session, I will remind them of the two ground rules again.
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Justyna Majecka-Żelazny
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The coach’s reaction to such a situation depends on several factors. First, it all depends on the context in which the team member ended his statement in such a way. If it was justified by factual circumstances, I would not intervene as a coach (when the statement is in response to a question and ends with the aforementioned question). Likewise if it was a one-time behavior and did not affect the work of the team. However, in the case of a recurring situation, I would ask the team how it affects the work of the team, how it affects creativity and innovation in finding solutions.
In the case where a team member’s statement that ended with the above-mentioned question was not an answer to the question, I would ask if the member could rephrase his/her statement and put it in the form of a question.
Depending on the situation, I would consider whether there is a need to remind the team of the AL rules at this point.
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Gil Vaillant
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To me this is a learning opportunity for the team that warrants an intervention by the coach. If this happens near the beginning of the session, soon after the two rules of AL have been described, I would immediately intervene to ask whose question the participant’s statement was addressing (maybe they’re not aware that their interaction is not in line with the first rule of AL).
If it becomes a repeated pattern of interaction by one or multiple participants during an AL session, I would intervene to ask the team: “How are we going with asking open questions?” I’d follow this up by asking the team: “Why is it important that the team asks each other open questions?” and finally “How can we have more open-ended questions during the session?”
It’s useful for the team to understand and reflect on how the quality of their questions relate to their ability to find breakthrough solutions. There are legitimate cases for closed questions like confirming or clarifying an understanding or suggested actions, however, in this case the participant seems to be using that form of question as a way around the first rule of AL sessions.
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