Scenario: Facilitator
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Someone decides they should start capturing what the team is saying on a flip chart and moves to the front of the room to do so.
Tags: Action Learning Coach, WIAL Action Learning
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Comments (15)
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Eric Zabiegalski
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I would let that person do so and possibly ask a question if i notice any disruptive behavior as a result of the person “stepping up”. for instance if someone was already capturing comments which i would expect they would be because the coach should ask someone to do so before the session starts, then there might be a conflict if you now have two people doing so. bottom line i would be hyper observant of behavior at this point and try to help the group transition through it, my questions might include:
what just happened now?
how does the group feel about their progress at this point?
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D´Arcy
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Our role as an Action Learning coach is to give our full confidence to the group. Therefore, if someone in the team decides they should start capturing what the team is saying on a flip chart, let them.
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Sandra
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My answer to this would be influenced by the expertise of the group in Action Learning. If it is a novice group then this action may hinder the learning process of the group in asking questions and listening to one another. A participant who does this may revert the group back to the ‘teacher-classroom’ mentality, potentially shutting down the energy or flow of the group in their new understanding of problem solving ‘together’. A novice group is essentially ‘learning the ropes’ and this action may fragment this. In contrast, the exert group is an entirely different matter and with their knowledge of the process of Action Learning well embedded in their understanding – I would not intervene here but enable the group to take charge.
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Dennis
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I would ask “what impact this decision may have on the team?”
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abhinav
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Till the time they are following the Ground Rules, i would let them do it.
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donna
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I would ask the group : “what do you observe just happened?” then follow up with asking them “what is the impact on the team?” I don’t think I need to prescribe anything–just call attention to the action and impact. I don’t hold it as my responsibility to tell them how to work–just bring to their attention what is happening so that they might be more intentional in responding.
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Helena Mihoko Miyahara
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As an Action Learning Coach I will ask to the group:
– What is the benefit to register our questions on the flip chart?
– What happens to the person who is more occupied by writing on the flip chart than to our questions?
– What is the impact if one participant is focused in registering all the questions instead of being with the group asking questions to explore and solve the problem.
The position of the group will be respected.
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chunqingyu
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I will ask other members “Do you think we’ll do this?” If they agree this action, I’ll let them do it. If not, I’ll ask them “what shall we do then?”
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Luann
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While I personally see no problem with this and would allow participants to voice concerns if they see this as a problem, a similar action become a discussion point in CALC2, The point was raised that there should be group consensus before action like this is taken. Therefore, I might ask ‘how is writing comments on the flip chart helping the group process’? Based on the response from participants, I would follow up with ‘does everyone agree with this action’?
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DrBea
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Anything is ok in an Action Learning team as long as the team has agreed to it. Since the person hadn’t checked with the team I would ask –
I’ve observed someone has started taking notes on the flip chart. Did anyone else notice that? (obvious answer)
What’s the impact of someone choosing how we should process without checking with the rest of the team?
How could we find out if the rest of the team is good with a tool for processing we’d like to use?
Keep in mind it is not for us to decide how a team processes, just raise how they are processing to awareness and let them make a conscious choice how they will process as a team.
Happy Coaching
Bea
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Adam Smith
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I would follow my usual formula:
1. I have observed that a member of the team has moved up to the front of the room and is taking notes on the flip chart. Have you all noticed this?
2. What is the impact of someone electing to do this on their own in your work today?
3. What would the team like to do?
My focus would be raising the issue so that the team is aware and participating with what is happening, and in agreement with what they are all doing as an Action Learning Team.
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dextercheng
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In fact, I myself have done that during one of my CALC session. I have learnt as an action learning coach, I would bring to the team attention that someone is doing that without the consent of the team. Ask them what kind of impact might that have on the teamwork. What would they like to do about that?
The learning would be sometimes people may do things with good intention, but would that really help the situation and the team members may need to raise their alertness on such behaviours.
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Yuri
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Actually, I faced this situation when I was a team member in taking the CALC course. Drawing on flip charts has facilitate the discussion. Every team members agree to do this before someone stand up to draw.
As a coach, i would ask “what impact this decision may have on the team?”
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Carol Kam
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I will state my observation and intervene 1) Team I observed xx is capturing notes using flip chart in front of the room, will it help to achieve both “action” and “learning” that are the main objectives of this session? 2) how can we best use of this resource if we decide to proceed? 3) does it impact the learning for the one who facilitate the notes capturing? (Most likely a brainstorming) 4) how does it impact the team?
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Bhagwan
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As a coach, this would be my series of questions to the team?
1. What are the benefits of note taking?
2. Did anyone else notice that a team member is been occupied with note taking questions on the flip chart?
3. What is the impact to the team discussion as one team member does the note taking?
4. How does team would like to continue the process when a team member is note taking on a flipchart?
5. Does the team agree upon?
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