Scenario: Too Slow

As an Action Learning Coach how would you handle the following situation:

You are coaching a leadership development program with a group of senior engineers…One of them is a Six Sigma Black Belt with years of experience in problem solving methods.  During the middle of your second meeting to frame the problem, the Black Belt notes that it is taking way too long to come to agreement on the problem.  Some of the Type A members of the group nod their heads in agreement.

Tags: Action Learning Coach, WIAL Action Learning

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Comments (10)

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    Jayne

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    I might ask, “How can clearly defining a problem impact the usefulness of Lean Six Sigma tools?”

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    yanquiloca

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    I might take out the problem solving model (diverging before converging) and ask the group, “Where do you think we are at in this process?” and “What happens if we are not all moving through the phases of problem solving at the same pace?” and see if that doesn’t slow the speedies down a bit, when they realize there is a method and a purpose to taking it slow!
    lynne penke

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    bkknox

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    I might ask: how might the time we are spending on defining the problem impact potential solutions? Later I might ask, How might potential solutions be be impacted if we are not clear on the problem we are trying to solve?

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    bkknox

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    Sorry, typing while riding in a bumpy uber

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    MNicholas

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    I may ask the group, what is the effect on the output of the group if we do not have agreement on the problem. Then i would ask the group members to each write what they understand the problem to be, then read what they wrote to the group then ask the group if we have agreement on the problem. Then ask who has the next question.

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    DrBea

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    As others have said – I would open it to the team –
    Why is it important that we all agree what the real problem we are working on is?
    What would help us get to agreement as to what the real problem is?

    Happy Coaching
    Bea

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    Tiffany Maurycy

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    I love that this too slow frustration is brought immediately to the team to address why it’s important to gain consensus and then it’s up to THEM to define a strategy to get to agreement.

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    Patrick Peters

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    Answer:
    As an ALC I’ll ask the team, what will be the effect on the output of the team if we don’t have fully agreement on the problem. After that I’d ask the team members to write what they think or understand what the problem is. When everyone read what they wrote as the problem I’ll ask the team if they have agreement on the problem. When there isn’t consensus about the problem I’ll ask who has the next question.

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    Savin Oeun

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    Being as Action Learning Coach, I will ask “ Hi Team, where we are now in process of problem statement agreement?” After team answer, I will ask one question more, how can we do better?

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    Savin Oeun

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    Being as Action Learning Coach, I will ask “ Hi Team, where we are now in process of problem statement agreement?”

    Reply

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