Scenario: Insufficient Time

As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation : The problem presented is much bigger than the time allotted.

Tags: Action Leaning, Action Learning Coach, WIAL, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk

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Comments (12)

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    Calixto Salud Jr

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    As an AL coach, I will remind the team that given the allotted time, we can have multiple sessions to handle the complex problem being presented. I will then ask the team periodically if they have achieved an understanding of the problem by writing it down, reading the problem aloud, and asking them for a poll from 1 to 10 to check for the team’s overall understanding of the problem.

    Given how complex the problem is, I will ask them how we can proceed in tackling this problem and what can be achieved by the end of the session. Lastly I will likewise ask them on the next steps to be done when the session ends. These next steps will prepare them for the next session or sessions which will continue tackling the problem, until the team has reached the solutioning stage.

    The team will be reminded that during the “in-between session,” they are required to do the action steps identified and that they will be asked to update the team at the beginning of the next session.

    In effect as their AL coach, I am guiding them to discover for themselves the progress that they can make in tackling the complex problem thru a series of multiple sessions.

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    Anna Muchnicka

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    I would ask the team if they know what is the problem we are solving. Check whether they agree on the problem. Sometimes the problem is that we don’t want to solve the real problem and we have benefits from not solving it.
    I would remind the team that we are here to first identify the problem and take an action after the session to learn from it. Even a small one. Ask them what would be the action to take.

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    SHAINA VANEK

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    As a AL coach, I would ask the team how they would like to handle the issue and ask questions that would enable the team to come to one of two courses of action: (1) to have multiple sessions if they want to address the large problem or (2) to pick a particular problem within the larger problem to work on.

    However, one issue to keep in mind when selecting one of these two options is that the problem could well change once it starts being “unpacked” thorugh the process of action learning, and what the team starts working on may not be where they end up at the end of the session!

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    David RECORD

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    As the Coach, in the situation like this, where we have not yet managed to reach consensus on the problem due to it’s complexity, I would firstly remind the team that there was a fixed amount of time available to the session today and that not only are we here to focus on the problem, but we must also continue with all the learning aspects of an Action Learning session.

    Therefore, I would want to understand, by asking the team, about their options based on time; are they able to continue with the identifying the problem in the future at the next session or do they need to reach some sort of conclusion today.

    In the first case, the importance will be to remind the team that they need to present a list of actions and who is responsible for taking the actions, after the meeting as the summary of the meeting.

    That means that the problem is still being worked on, but that the group has reached a successful conclusion the Action Leaning group meeting on that day by agreeing on the actions to be taken. They must begin the next meeting by reviewing the actions taken between meetings and this process may continue for one or more meetings until they have finally reached agreement on the problem are ready to move to the next step.
    If the Group has to reach some form of conclusion today and cannot meet again, I would suggest that they select one aspect of the problem only, to reach consensus on a reduced problem and continue the Action Learning session.

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    Michelle Gagui

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    As a coach, it’s vital that we manage expectations with the participants (including session time). On this case, ensure that we have clarity on the problem. If needed, we need to schedule another session. This is to make sure that we facilitate the team to realize the underlying causes or the root cause of the initial problem presented. In the end, if there are multiple problems, I would make the team realize that they need to prioritize which problem to solve first. then, action steps will be easy.

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    Angela Simone Nicoleti Donadel

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    As an Action Learning Coach, I would make sure the group decided whether this was the problem choose. If they agree, that’s the problem we’re going to work on, that’s right. Let’s go ahead with the process, to explore the problem.

    During the exploration phase, if the problem shows us that it is really big. I will ask them you which part of the problem do we have a consensus on? After that, we followed this meeting to solve part of the problem.

    If necessary, we can schedule another meeting to work with another part.

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    Kathryn Jeacock

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    I would intervene 30 mins before the end of the session and ask the problem presenter how they would like to spend the remainder of the time, that would be most helpful to them and if there is a particular priority area they would like the group to work on in the time remaining.

    I would also share my observation with the group and ask them how they would like to deal with it?

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    Tharntip Jirakanjana

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    As a coach, if members into the opinions that the problems presented to real problems together. I’ll ask the team to share the comments. That we have to together much. The members are allocated time, how to cause the most useful for the team, in order to learn and help solve the problem.

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    Marta Bolshaw Vieira

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    As an action learning coach, I would ask the group: “What part of the problem can we solve at this meeting today?”

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    Uracha Poopakdee

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    According to P.P. told team from the beginning of session,Coach estimated that the problem was too big for the time to do on this AL session.
    We have about 90 minutes for the team to work and help P.P. What issues does PP would take into account first?
    But if the process has passed for a while ,Coach asked P.P. that how many issues does P.P. has right now? We have time left ….. minute.
    What issues will PP bring to show before the end of this session?

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    Melissa Davis

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    As a coach, I would review the ground rules and the allotted time for the session. During the interventions, I would do a time check, let them know how long we have been working on that particular section, and remind them that in another X minutes, I will be asking the problem presenter what actions they will be going to take as a result of this session.

    If the group could not identify the problem or there was no breakthrough solution, I would let the group know that we could plan another session to reconvene, and I would bring it back to the group and ask them what they would like to do.

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    Ma Dulce Edillor

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    As AL Coach, I would be realistic and clarify that the session is for 90 minutes. I will ask the team member to agree on the problem. I will also explain that they don’t have to force the issue to find a concrete solution to the problem. The most important part is that they learn from the process of making statements in response to questions. Learning comes from the interaction among the team members. You grow from within as you share your inputs and ideas. The process will unfold and lead the team on the next action steps.

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