Scenario: Problematic Problem Presenter (2024)
Tags: Action Learning, ActionLearning Coach, Team Coach, WIAL, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk
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Tags: Action Learning, ActionLearning Coach, Team Coach, WIAL, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk
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wthimmes
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I would start by informing the problem presenter that I became aware of this situation and would ask them for some time to talk with them after the action learning set.
I would then begin the action learning set acknowledging that the problem presenter, who is about to state the problem, has previously presented their solution to the team. I would turn to the team and ask, “What is the impact on the team when the problem owner presents a solution to their problem before the team begins asking questions about it?”
Hopefully, this will lead–in an honest and fearless team–to a discussion about limited problem solving and creativity in the action learning set. I would follow up by asking, “How might the team still move forward with a creative and inquisitive mindset given that a solution has been presented?” Here, I would be hoping that the team begins to see that they still have options to explore alternate solutions, re-explore the original problem, or move forward productively even with this limitation.
If the team is part of the organization and feels intimidated or limited in resisting the problem presenter in moving toward solution, the first question might be unanswered by the team or someone on the team might reinforce the problem presenter’s approach by stating that the team has been given instructions and needs to move ahead. At this point I would turn to the team, “How does the team wish to proceed.” This would allow for an “out” for the team to move ahead with solution or begin to discuss or debate other ways to move forward.
Either way, I would still meet with the problem presenter after this meeting and ask, “Why did you feel it important to share a solution with the team before their meeting to discuss the problem?” This would give me a sense of how firm the problem presenter is. It could be the case that they are not autocratic in their thinking, but wanted to provide context and their point of view. In that case I would ask the problem presenter if they were open to the team exploring other ways of looking at the problem to come up with the most relevant solution which might get at root causes and not the apparent problem faced by the problem owner. Obviously, if the team instead had agreed with the problem presenter earlier and wanted to move ahead toward solution, I would use this conversation to thank the problem presenter and affirm that action learning may not be the most useful way to proceed given their desire to direct the team forward with a preferred solution.
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Richard Fan
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I would check with the PP about in what degree he/she assures the solution could solve the problem successfully and how the stakeholders would support the solution.
If the PP finds there might be some problem, I would suggest no to provide the solution to the team. Instead, keeping open and waiting to see what the team members might produce after their joint efforts. If the PP feels fully confident about the solution, I would suggest him/her to make further investigation and collect more data & comments with the team, rather than starting the AL project or session.
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Jerry Wang
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Although the problem presenter may have proposed a solution, there might be other considerations to uncover during our Action Learning session. I would encourage the group to trust the process and invite the problem presenter to describe the problem afresh after the half-hour meeting. I would also ask the team to determine the best direction to take, given that the problem presenter has already suggested one solution. As the coach, I will still follow the “What, So What, Now What” line of questioning to ensure we make the best use of our time for continuous reflection and learning.
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An Nguyễn
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First, I would ask the presenter why he or she decided to do so?
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Paul Monax
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I think it would depend on the company hierarchy and if the problem presenter has the authority to unilaterally decide upon a solution or not.
If so, then I would take them aside and ask them about it, their solution, if they are confident they solved the actual problem, and I would likely cancel or at least post-pone the Action Learning session.
If on the other hand they don’t have that kind of authority, I think I would hold the Action Learning session and see if I could get the team to ignore the presented solution and first get consensus on the problem.
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Richard Fan
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Confirm with PP if he thinks it is still necessary to carry out this AL session. If necessary, invite the PP to clarify what kind of assistance he would like in the AL Session, and it is up to the PP and the participants together to decide how to proceed under WIAL’s rules. At the end of the session, you can also invite people to review this particular session and see what you can learn from it.
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