Scenario: Emotional moment(2025)
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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Rachel Wang
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As the coach, it is crucial to create an environment where the participant feels accepted and supported, while also ensuring the group feels safe and comfortable to offer support.
As a general approach, I would first pause the conversation to acknowledge the participant’s emotions. Then, I would check in with them to understand their needs at that moment, including their level of comfort in exploring the emotion, or if they prefer not to address it. It is important to leave the autonomy with the participant to guide the next steps.
I encountered a similar situation in an Action Learning group session. In that instance, the participant agreed to explore her emotions after taking a moment to calm down. Reflecting on the events earlier in the day, I identified a potential link between her emotions and a previous discussion with another participant, during which they had differing opinions. I brought this up and validated it with the participant. Following this, I facilitated a brief reflection on what happened and what the group could learn from the situation. This process not only helped resolve the underlying conflict but also strengthened trust within the group.
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Dale Forkner
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Initially, I would call for a 5-minute break, so that I could privately speak to the upset team member and determine what the problem is. If the problem is perceived negativity within the group or specific team member, I would assure them that the team is there to help, and that no one is judging them. When the team reconvenes, I would make sure to reiterate that point to the group. That is one of the primary rules of effective group interaction.
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Anna Solak
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If during the Action Learning session a participant would start to cry, I would pause the discussion and would address the whole group saying that this is normal that emotions come into play. This would hopefully give the crying participants some time to catch a breath. Then I would ask them what they need. If they need a short break, after it I would ask them if they want to continue or if they want to stop the session. If they decide to stop the session, I would ask them if it would be ok, to discuss this situation with the group. But would leave the decision on what to do next with the person in question.
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ANGELINA ALICEA
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If a participant became emotional while responding to a question, my first instinct as a coach would be to pause and acknowledge what’s happening in a calm, respectful way. I would let them know that it’s okay to feel whatever they’re feeling and offer them the option to take a break or continue. Whatever feels right to them in the moment.
I see emotions as part of the real work of learning and problem-solving, not something separate from it. So I would also reassure the group that this is a safe space where people can show up as they are. When everyone feels comfortable again, I might invite reflection with a question like, “How do our emotions show up in our decision making or team dynamics?”
After the session, I would check in with the participant privately to make sure they felt supported and respected throughout. To me, intellectual empathy means staying attuned not just to ideas, but to the human experience behind them and helping the group grow from those moments instead of moving past them too quickly.
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ET
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I would ask the participant who became emotional: Would you like to take a moment, or would you prefer to continue?
In addition to having a quiet moment, I would ask the whole group: would you like to take a break? or what do we as a team need to do now to support each other?
Then I would respect the team’s decision to proceed.
At the reflection stage, I would also ask the team: on a scale of 1-10, how do you feel we have done as a team today? What have we done well?
What have we learned about supporting each other specially during emotional moments?
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