Scenario: Verbose

As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation: Several participants are answering the questions extensively, including repetition, history, minute details and ancillary information.

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

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Comments (5)

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    Andrea See

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    I would intervene by addressing the person who asked the question:

    “What was your question?”

    “Was your question answered?”

    To the group: “Who has the next question?”

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    Somsith Meesangnil

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    I will intervene, “Team, what do you really want to answer? What will it affect the team if we have a long answer and detailed answer? (I) “Team, what shall we do to answer the question short and concise? (D) or shifitng to “Who want to ask the next question?

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    Marina Nizar

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    I may apply the ‘what-so what-now what’ questioning approach here – ask if the team has noticed anything about the answering patterns; how will this affect the process; and what should we do to move forward?

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    Aline Costa Romão

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    I would bring this situation to the consciousness of the group by asking. “Guys, I noticed that we are not being objective in the answers, did anyone else notice this?”. Listen to the group and ask “who can remember the first rule of action leaning?” In case they don’t remember I would say that the first rule says we should answer questions concisely.” I would add “why would answering concisely help us with this problem?”.
    I’ve been through this situation several times and the group always understands that concise questions and answers help to better reflect on the problem.
    Doing this reflection is super important for the group to learn to explore the problem and also to take advantage of the time.

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    Huang Tang

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    I would say, “I noticed that some of you took up a lot of time when you are answering questions. But the time is limited, I am worrying that we may have no enough time to achieve our objective, what do you think?”
    “Based on the current situation, in order to achieve our objectives, what can we do in the following discussion?”

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