Scenario: Unsolicited Advice

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

You ask a member of the team how they did with their leadership skill. Another member pipes up – I’d like to tell you a technique so you can accomplish that skill. All you have to do is …

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

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Comments (14)

  • Avatar

    lynwong

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    A – member being asked the question on how he/she did with his/her leadership skill
    B- member who is trying to offer a suggestion

    As an Action Learning coach, I will say:
    “B, hold that thought, let me rephrase my question, A, how did you practise your leadership competency?”

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    • Avatar

      AgataRD

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      Exactly… may be to add ‘hold that thought.. let us proceed with the group process at the moment…”

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Sweety Burrows

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    Tell the 2nd member that the question is for the 1st member to answer and post which his observations on how he did on the Leadership skill will be welcomed.

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  • Avatar

    bkknox

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    As the AL coach I would say:
    Sounds like you have some great ideas. Let’s reserve your technique for the end of our session. I’d like to return to the first question for the team member, How did you do with your leadership skill? Then I would follow with, How did others see that skill being practiced?

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  • Avatar

    lumpking

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    I would request that the suggestion be placed in the “Parking lot” in an effort to move the process forward. The question will then be posed again to the team member, asking whether or not he/she did okay or not so okay on their leadership skill. It is important that the team remains focused and as coach to ensure that the three levels of learning take place.

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    MNicholas

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    I would ask the person who spoke to allow the individual to first say how they did with their selected skill and remind him or her that we would then like other members to give examples of when the individual practiced the leadership skill. I could also indicate to the person that they may want to ask the group later if the group cared for their suggestion with respect to the particular leadership skill.

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  • Avatar

    Michael

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    As the A/L I would say, “Could you please hold that thought? Right now I’m asking A about how they feel they did on their leadership behaviors. In a few minutes, you can give us an example of how you saw A demonstrate their leadership skill.”

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  • Avatar

    EnzoArmo

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    To interrupting participant: “Pardon me, but this question, which I would like to rephrase anyway, is asked to everyone individually so you will have your turn. After everyone has a turn being asked how they practiced their leadership skill, you could probably give your suggestion offline, after the session.”
    To current person being asked: “So. How do you think you practiced your leadership skill during the session?”

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  • Avatar

    ksculver

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    Let’s hear first from X on how he/she feels they did in demonstrating the leadership skill he/she identified. Each of us also will have an opportunity to comment on what we observed X doing during the session to demonstrate this leadership skill.

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  • Avatar

    BobvdWoerdt

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    I will say: “It is good that you have an idea and hold that thought but now I’am asking to your colleague-participant”.
    After his colleague-participant I asked the question to the ‘interrupted participant’.

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    DrBea

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    I would be firm in my response –

    My question was to A – When did you demonstrate your leadership skill?. When I open it to the team to respond to my question will be – When did you see A performing their leadership skill?

    If necessary I will repeat.

    It is critical as coach we enforce the behavior we want to see – answer the question that is asked.

    Happy Coaching
    Bea

    Reply

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    Tiffany Maurycy

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    I appreciate how the AL Coach embodies the power of questions and intervenes with questions to ensure the integrity of the process.

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    Kirsty Foster

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    I would thank the second group member whom was offering advice, suggesting we park that thought on the flip chart and return to re ask the initial question – of the first person – how do you think you did on your chosen leadership skill, directing focus and attention on following ensuring the question in hand is answered and allows each group member to be heard and to share in what they experienced and observed in others.

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  • Avatar

    Stuart Tan

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    I’d have to ask the person giving advice, “Would you rephrase that into a question” or “What was your question”.

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