Scenario: Please explain

As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation: A participant asks another participant to explain what the intent behind their question was. For example, saying – “It feels like a there is a question behind your question. I’m curious what that question is?

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

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Comments (6)

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    Ethan Sanders

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    I would probably intervene first and say “let’s answer the question first with a statement, and then if you have a follow-on question you are welcome to ask it.” If you allow them to just ask question in response to a question, that breaks the agreed upon process. However, once the question is answered, I don’t see any issue with someone following up with a question such as “could you clarify your question a bit and explain why you asked it?”

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    Debbie Ng

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    I would intervene and ask the team, “Team, what are the 2 ground rules?”. Team will respond and be reminded that statements be made in response to questions and the session moves on from there.

    An alternative intervention would be using the SID model starting with, “Team, what is happening here?” After getting some responses, I would continue by asking, “What will happen to the team if we continue to question the questions coming forth?” And finally, “How do we prevent this from happening?”

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    Kant Srithundorn

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    I will intervene this situation immediately, and ask those participants who asking question “what the real questions you want to ask?” if she insist this is my question I will remind team by asking question “What is the component of great question in Action Learning?”

    Then, I will remind them in mindset of asking the great question in Action Learning, which one is the right mindset to make a great question? leaner or judger mindset as we agreed before the session start?

    Finally, I will paraphrase the question from participants (who has curiosity) and ask to team this question is related learner or judger mindset? To let the team to understand what mindset and question they should continue to practice in the session.

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    Prudence James-Townsend

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    If a response was given to the original question, and the group member’s follow up question is asking for the rationale behind the first question, I would not intervene as the Coach. As Rule #1 of Action Learning states that a question can be asked of anyone and the question asked should be response to concisely. To me it would clarify the matter and allow the person to be able to better concentrate on the session and he/she would not be distracted trying to overthink.

    If however, the question was posed before a response were given, then I would lean in and ask the group member “which question are you responding to?” or ask the person who asked the first question “Are you satisfied with the response to your question?”

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    Phattraphorn Chunhakamolruck

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    I would observe the mood and tone first, if they asking by the positive mood and tone just only want to understand or clarify what is the intent of the question I would not intervene as this also define to follow the ground rules as to speak once answering or asking the questions. However, if this is in a negative tone, I would intervene for clarifying the question he ask back about the intent is for him to more understanding the question and better answering the question ? and emphasize that his answering would definitely make team to learn and grow together in this session.

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    Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu

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    I will check the purpose of that member’s question: “Oh, what prompted you to ask that question?”
    If the purpose of the question is to help the team clarify and better solve the problem then I will let the team continue working.
    If the purpose of the question is to serve A’s own curiosity, I will ask the group:
    – According to everyone, how does that question affect the effectiveness of teamwork?
    – What can we do better in the upcoming minutes?

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