Scenario:My View
As an action learning coach, how would you handle the following situation:
Hearing the initial statement of the problem you (as coach) are clear what the real problem is. The team heads down a different path with it.
Tags: Action Learning Coach, WIAL Action Learning
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D'Arcy Dornan
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As coach, our role is to give confidence to the team even in such a circumstance. In 8 to 15 minutes, I would intervene with the group in order to adhere to the sequence of AL coach questions (how, why and how can we assure…).
We know from coaching experiences the power of these questions and this might be enough to redirect the team down the right path.
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D'Arcy Dornan
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Let me clarify the last statement from above. Using the sequence of AL coach questions might be enough for the team to realize how they could redirect themselves down the right path…
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donna
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I would be very hesitant to intervene on the problem. I have been in sessions where the presenting problem was only the launching pad for the REAL problem. The team may be onto something. The problem presenter can or could be available to re-direct the group if necessary.
I would focus on the learning behaviors and allow the group to digress.
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Robert
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I would not assume as a coach that I really know what the real problem in this case. I may think I know but the real root causes may be uncovered by the interaction of the team. The coach must divorce themselves from the problem and concentrate on the learning of the group. I would not take on a coaching role if I had any particular stake in the problem itself,
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najiresearch
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If I am worried about them going down the wrong road, I am definitely not in coaching mode and too involved in the problem. Hopefully I have my own system in place from bringing me back on track (the standard session template at minimum.)
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christan
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I agree with the above comments. Many a times, we are tempted to “fixed” the problem, forgetting that AL is not just about action but learning. So I will let the team go through the process, intervening where necessary and if they are really going down the wrong path, to discover it themselves through the AL process.
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Johnamos
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As a AL Coach, i will intervene and ask for the scale of 1-10 of how the team is doing and also what can we do better as a group? Have them written down and read out what they think the problem is and asking them whether is there an agreement to the problem. If not, i will post another question ” What can we do better as a group” before i let the team to continue with their questionings.
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Yuri
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When I “think” I knew the problem, I will have this 2 steps pop-up in my mind
1. By self-reflection: Am I really know? May be I don’t know
2. As a professional coach: My role is not to solve the problem. My role is to keeping the session as a learning group which will take action later.
So probably, I would focus on the process and learning behaviors of the team. I will wait more 10-15 mins for any team member to ask questions reviewing that situation before I intervene.
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DrBea
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Great answers! As an AL coach it is not my job to ‘know’ the problem. It is entirely up to the team to determine that. This is a time that’s it’s best that i just stay out of the way and focus on how the team is processing.
Happy Coaching
Bea
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Shelly Gilmore
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My job as coach isn’t to identify the problem. I need to let the team take it’s own chosen path and attend to the learning opportunities along the way. Learning check-ins will be opportunities to identify if they are actually limiting their view of the problem in some way.
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John Laycock
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I would not take any specific action in this scenario, except to remind myself to focus on the group and the process and not to get to absorbed into the problem. It is not the role of the coach to know or assume they know the real problem and/or solution. The coach relies on the team members to define their own problem understanding and actions.
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NAN LI
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I will suspend the intervention, because first of all, action learning coach has a firm belief that: PP and the team have the ability to find ways to solve the problem and the path. So as a coach, I don’t act as a consultant, even if there is an answer. I will not judge and intervene, and leave it to the team to experience, discover and enhance the ability.
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