Scenario: Last call

As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation: You’ve been randomly calling for participants to read their problem. The problem presenter consistently waves you off – waiting until lasts to read their version of the problem.

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

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Comments (16)

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    ANGELINA ALICEA

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    I would allow the participant to go last. They may be nervous, so allowing the participant to find their comfort level would make the session more productive. Nevertheless, I would not let them pass when calling on members again.

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      taweepong pawachalotorn

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      I would ask the whole team if they are ok with this situation. If the team says ok, I would let the participant read its issue last.

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    Janice Chan

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    I would ask for volunteer from the team to proceed with the session and come back to this participant when the others have voiced their thoughts.

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    Marietta Dembek

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    I would say: I see you have your version of the problem ready. I will ask you to read it after all participants.

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    Yui Lee

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    “Why am I asking the problem presenter to read the question now?”
    “what is the possible impact of the problem presenter reading their statement first or last?”
    “What is happening right now?”
    “Why do you think this is happening?”
    “How would you like to address this as a group?”

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    Monika Gawanowska

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    The participant has the right to feel different emotions during the process. He can speak last. If there are voices of doubt from the group, I would suggest that the speaker choose the next person to respond.

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    An Nguyễn

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    – Ask PP: what makes you refuse to read the issue?
    – Ask the Team: How does a member’s refusal to read the problem affect the group?
    – Ask the Team: What will the group decide to do next?

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    Aleksandra Serafin

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    Firstly I would ask the whole team if they are ok with this situation. If the team says ok, I would let the participant read its issue last.
    However, if the situation repeats I would ask those questions:
    to the problem presenter:
    – What is the reason that you want to read your issue last?
    – How does it affect problem solving?
    to the team:
    – Does this situation have any affect on the problem solving?

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    Mai Nguyen

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    – Ask PP: What makes you want to read in the end?
    – Ask the team: Does the team agree to let the PP read the final problem statement?

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    Savin Oeun

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    I will ask team ” hi team, what is the situation, how is them pact the process, and how could you prevent from this more effectively” Thanks

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    Dr Debra Clary

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    I’d ask: As the coach, I we ask each team member to read problem statements a few times during the session. What is the team’s preferred approach to this process?

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    Anne-Marie Crowther

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    Assuming this scenario refers to the part where the team check consensus as to the problem, I have tried different approaches and they all seem to work fine – including asking people in order they are on my screen, asking people to speak when they are ready (randomly), presenter 1st/last. I do not think it matters who goes in which order as everyone gets to read their statement which they have already written so cannot be influenced by those before them. I find some people naturally like to have their turn earlier or later depending on personality, confidence etc. My only issue with random is that sometimes it wastes time waiting for the next person so I have now started to simply ask team members according to order on my screen then next time reverse order. The most important thing is that everybody shares their statement with the team so that each member stays engaged, their contribution is heard and acknowledged and they all help towards finding consensus which reinforces that they are one team.
    If anyone identifies how presenter going last might impact (positively or negatively) I’d be interested to read their thoughts.

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    Michael John Enciso

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    For this particular scenario, it is important to understand why the problem presenter must not be the first and last one to be called to read their problem. This is to ensure that the team’s understanding of the problem is not influenced by the problem presenter’s perspective. Therefore, it is important to intervene here and ask the team: Did you notice that a team member is consistently waving me off whenever I call his/her name to read the problem? It will be difficult not to notice so the expected answer would be yes, giving the opportunity to follow up with: How would this affect the team if we allowed this to continue? Additionally, I will ask the team about the role of the team member in question, which is problem presenter and then ask: Why is it important that the problem presenter is not last to read his/her problem? This would be a great opportunity to learn about the wisdom behind this, especially the problem presenter. I will then end by asking how they wish to proceed.

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    Ilona Patrycja

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    As a coach, I would ask the group if it’s okay with them for the presenter to read their version at the end. If the group agrees, then I would ask the presenter at the end.

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    Lihan Wang

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    I will respect the member’s request and cue his at last after all members have finished speaking. If I perceive that his behavior has an impact on other members, I will interrupt and share my own observations and ask the team members if they are aware of them. If some members have noticed, I will invite them to give PP some feedback on this point. If the feedback mentions the PP’s model, I will ask the team what they have learned from the feedback and what to do next. Of course, people may not feel that the PP model has any obvious impact.
    In fact,whether there is an impact or not, during this conversation, the team realizes that they need to pay attention to their own or others’ behavior patterns, and this may affect the team process.

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    Sarah Tennyson

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    I think this scenario has been created by the coach’s way of asking people to read. If they are really asking randomly then the PP will occur randomly and if they are refusing then there is something in the way the coach is asking that signals that refusal is an option. Coach might be signaling this verbally or non-verbally, perhaps without being aware of it. As a coach, I prefer to use the methods that others have mentioned such as going clockwise around my zoom gallery then reversing order next time. For me as a coach to make an intervention about it I would be looking for other indicators that this behavior is problematic for the group or having an adverse effect on their learning/performance.

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