Building understanding is important – until we get stuck there.
Unless we have a strong sense of what’s causing our problem, and why we should be there, it’s hard to take meaningful action.
But once we enter the talkfest zone, it’s hard to get out. Important problems are complicated. There’s always more things to solve, and most of them are outside of our control.
Without a clear way forward, things can feel hopeless – sending us backward. Good facilitators are masters at channelling focus.
We need to decide which problems we’re willing and able to solve, and what the most important priorities are. Once we do that, we can talk about how to get there.
SIGNS YOU NEED TO CHANNEL FOCUS
The problem feels bigger than when you started
Progress has slowed or stalled
No one puts their hand up to do anything.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
When we’re solving complex problems, or managing complicated projects, it’s easy for things to get overwhelming.
In a collaborative environment, that’s even harder, because roles and responsibilities aren’t always clear.
Here’s some ideas:
■ Ask everyone what they think the single most important priority for change is, and whether they’d be happy to take ownership of that area.
■ Play the $100 game, by asking everyone – if you had only $100 to spend on this problem, where would you put it and why?
■ Break your project or issue down into the smallest possible chunks and challenge everyone to take one small action before the next meeting – sometimes action precedes clarity.
THREE QUESTIONS TO ASK
1. What is the most important thing to change?
2. Where do we have the most influence?
3. What is the logical next step?
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