Scenario: Consensus?

As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation: The team says they are at consensus on the real problem but you disagree.

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

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Comments (13)

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    Nabih Jabr

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    If the team agrees on the real problem, it does not matter if the coach disagrees, as long as he/she is satisfied that the team is working well together and has a real consensus. If not, then more probing questions could be asked to try to uncover the underlying problem

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    Marina Nizar

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    As the Action Learning coach, I would respect the team’s decision and proceed further with the questioning process. I would further observe to see how the team progresses from there, if they unravel further insights to the problem or about themselves and intervene where appropriate.

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    Agnieszka Olczak

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    As an action learning coach, I don’t judge, I just observe and intervene when necessary or when I see an opportunity to learn. If I want to help the group to verify that everyone really understands the problem in the same way, you can ask each participant to write down on a piece of paper how they understand the problem, and then you can compare the answers. Then you can ask the presenter how much he feels the group has understood his problem.

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    Magdalena Stefanska

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    Being an Action Learning coach I am not a member of the team so my personal opinion on the problem presented does not matter. I respect the team’s opinion and do not interviene when there is no need for that. Having a consensus does not mean that the team does not continue the discussion – there are still more questions that its members can ask so the problem presenter can formulate an action to be taken after the session in more detailed manner. It may happen that the team dynamic will change and the coach may use it as a learning opportunity.

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    Nazeli Kirakosyan

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    As a learning coach, I do not have the role of agreeing or disagreeing. It is important that the team themselves have the consensus. If I am aware of the problem (as I work for the same organization) and do not agree that there is a consensus, I can ask the problem presenter for his/her separate opinion. Besides the actions, that the team will commit to, will once again challenge the group to look to the problem.
    As a learning coach, and if the planned time allows, I can always run another circle of questions for confirming or questioning the consensus.

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    Michał Kowalczewski

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    I do not judge the group’s decisions, I observe and look for opportunities to learn. I can ask each of the participants to write down what the problem is and then everyone reads on the forum. After reading, I check if the group has a common understanding of the problem. If they say so, I continue the session if I don’t ask, “What can we do as a group to better understand the problem?”

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    Austin DENG

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    I would invite the participants to write down the real problem based on their understanding and speak it out to check whether they have reached agreement. Then let them decide what to do next.

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    Liliia Bilous

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    My focus as an Action Learning coach will be on facilitation of learning opportunities for the group rather than on the problem content.
    To avoid personal opinion on the problem not only during the session but also between the sessions is a learning opportunity for the personal growth as a coach as well as development the moderation skill

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    Serdar Gunel

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    The team itself should decide on a common problem statement while the coach facilitates the discussion and allows the team to have consensus.
    As action learning coaches, we intervene when we capture learning opportunities or to improve the performance of the team. Keeping this nature of action learning in mind, I don’t see any reason for the coach to disagree with the problem statement. Besides, the coach may find it helpful to ask some complementary questions such as the following rather than sharing individual disagreement.
    – Without a given solution yet, how important and urgent do you think the problem is?
    – Is the team/organization able to address the problem relying on currently available knowledge and expertise?

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    Kemal Kaan Saner

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    I think the coach should not declare his/her opinion about the problem definition. The coach should stay neutral. However, the coach should check if the problem definition reflect the outcome of discussion. If not, the coach ask some quiding question to team members to help them identify missing elements through appraoching the problem from the different angles

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    Nipapun Poonsateansup

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    As an Action Learning coach, I respect the team members’ consensus and their decision making. However, I would check by asking them to write down the real problem based on their understanding and read it out. After reading the statement, I would let the team decide again that they really see the same problem. Then, I would follow the Action Learning process.

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    SHAN ZHOU

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    I would check how much consensus the team has achieved by asking the member to rate their consensus. I would also invite them to share their thinking behind the marks they give.

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    Tomasz Stangret

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    It is not in my rolę (AL Coach) to agregaty or disagree witam what the problem is. I’m continuing the process

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