Scenario: Multiple Responses
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Lots of statements are made in response to a question that was posed to everyone.
Tags: Action Learning Coach, WIAL Action Learning
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ChauChyiTai
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They are following rule number one, and I will not intervene and continue to observe for learning opportunity to surface out.
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Peter Cauwelier
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Agree here. Since the question was asked to everyone, they all have the right to answer. I would look out though to make sure that each team member’s statements are still an answer to that original question … If they would go off in a completely different direction that is no longer an answer to the original question, I would intervene quickly by asking “Are you still answering A’s question ?”
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Jansen Chua
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I would agree to observe and allow the group to share their statements in response to the question asked and at the appropriate moment ask who has the next question.
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michaelmadera
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I also agree, this is specifically mentioned in the AL script: “A question may generate many responses from members of the group.”
If I felt it was appropriate to offer an “opportunity for learning intervention”, depending on the nature of the statements, I might say: “I am observing many statements generated by that one question, and I am curious: what new questions are coming up for us?”
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Tom Janiak
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Agree with ChauChyiTai and Peter Cauwelier. The fact that so many statements are made in response to a single question may mean something. I like to think of a coach as a mirror of the group.. I would then (after a moment) do a standard intervention and then ask:
1. I have observed that…
2. What impact does this have on the team?
3. and then, depending on whether the impact is favorable or not: how can we make sure we do it in the future? or How do we want to handle such situations in the future?
What do you guys think?
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Will
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Tom, I agree and I would continue on the basis that it was posed to everyone, and there is possibly rich flow of learning from allowing the team to share statements. I would observe what happens: e.g. for any deviance from the question asked, or for one or more trying to dominate. Depending on what I observed, I would intervene, either:
• to check what is the question that has been asked.
• ask whether we are leveraging the resources in the group fully
• to ask for observations on what happened and its impact on the group
• to see if there anymore statements in response to the question
• or to move the group on with: ‘Who has the next question?’
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Ignatius Sharma
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Since the question was asked to everyone, the team can share their statements in response to the question. I would observe for any learning opportunity. If they no longer are answering the question then I can ask: “Are there anymore statements in response to the question”? Followed by asking the team “Who has the next question”?
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vganesh
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I would allow the the statement if it directly relates to the questions posted. If it is irrelevant, I would intervene by asking “are you giving statement based on the question posted?
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PeterSeah
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Lots of Statements in response to a question asked may mean that a good question was asked to draw out the participants’ responses.
I will not do anything yet but observed how the conversation goes and also how participants have been practicing their leadership skills.
I will wait for the right moment to intervene if needed.
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ramgopalan
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As long as the ground rules are being followed and people are answering the question that was asked, then I would allow the discussion to progress.
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Dennis Sanko
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If all responses are heard by all the team members, are constructive and all address the question, I would not intervene.
If several members would be answering simultaneously, disregarding responses of other team members, I would ask: “How does disregarding/not listening to the answers of the team members impact the group dynamics?”
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DrBea
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Great responses! Yes they are following the rules – hence I would do nothing.
Happy Coaching
Bea
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Joseph
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It is good to see members are responding to question and they are following the ground rule. I agree with you all and I will do noting.
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Barry Rush
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I would let them continue to answer but observe are they all answering the question that was asked or are there rabbit trails. Yesterday in the group I was with, there were so many statements going ostensibly in answer to the question, but I intervened and asked, “What question are you answering right now?” It worked well. The group located the question and refocused on it.
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Pratya Opaspakornkit
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Since this align with 1st rule and the quest didn’t specific to anyone then every one able to contribute the answer, I’d intervene whenever those answer is take longtime and looping itself or the answer mislead into another thing that doesn’t relevant to the question.
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Siwaporn Boonchu
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I would do nothing and let the team continue the session as they respond to the question they received. I would observe if that statement related to the question or not. If not, I would intervene with “Are your statements related to the question?
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Elena Goryacheva
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If all answers and statements voiced are relevant and related to the question asked, I won’t interfere the process, since the team works within an working frame.
If responses sound like statements or do not relate to the current topic (team starts to deviate from the subject), I will start with first level intervention and ask: “What’s going on in a team?” continuing with: “What are you going to do about it?”
If intervention doesn’t lead to result, I will make the next intervention and ask: “How simultaneous replies do affect the team work?” When team comes to constructive decision, I will ask: “Who is going to ask next question?”
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Evgeniy Patrikhalka
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Lots of statements are made in response to a question that was posed to everyone.
If participants provide answers for problem holder’s question one by one and that questions move the problem solving process forward, I won’ interfere. If I notice that there are active and passive participants, I will ask: “How/ Why is it important to get answers from each participant?” If answers to the problem holder’s questions sidetrack from problem solving process, I will ask: “How can we improve a teamwork process?” Also, if team members provide multiple simultaneous answers in a spontaneous way, I will ask: “Who is talking right now?” or “Do we allow each other to speak out?”
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