RESCUING TEAMS FROM CRISIS

COLLABORATION IS GOOD

• Fast to add new ideas
• Identifies risks and opportunities
• Builds fellowship

COLLABORATION IS BAD

• Difficult to remove alternatives
• Prone to opinion-lock
• Difficult to move past minor, subjective decisions

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ROLE OF THE LEADER

• Define the problem
• Time box the process
• Define finite alternatives
• Decorate the alternatives
• Vote and summarize
• Volunteer the team

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE?

LEADERS DEFINE THE PROBLEM

• Closed-ended goals
• Clarify the time/budget constraints
• List the challenges frankly

TIME BOX THE PROCESS

• 30-90 minutes
• Set time-blocked agenda
• Allow time to describe problem, brainstorm broad solutions, decorate, and choose

SINGLE ALTERNATIVE TRAP

DEFINE BROAD ALTERNATIVES

• Aim for 2-3
• Capture them on paper
• Give them a nicname
• Don’t let a person “own” an alternative
• Light on detail to start

“DECORATE” ALTERNATIVES

• Invite everyone to add (concerns, clarifications, benefits)
• Don’t challenge additions
• Capture all input on paper/cards

RAPID VOTING

BRING IT TO A VOTE

• Read through the list once
• Use depersonalized voting
• Don’t hold a debate
• Summarize vote verbally during meeting
• Photograph and email the group’s choice

VOLUNTELL THE TEAM

• Leader names the immediate next things to do
• Ask who will do the necessary actions and demand an answer
• Capture the agreements and timings
• Emphasize that it’s “the group’s” decision

FIN.