How else?

7/1/2017

The team decided to work on clarifying its purpose, it’s raison d'être, it’s answer to the, ‘What are we here to do?’ question. It had been thinking about its ways of working, its team meetings, its mode of operation. It made sense to step back, at least one step, before stepping forward. As team coach, I stepped in briefly to suggest that they start by clarifying the questions they were seeking to answer. They settled on, ‘What is our optimal role?’ and ‘How can we add value?’

I asked again, ‘So how might you do this?’ A team member responded quickly, ‘Let’s discuss it and see what we come up with.’ The others nodded in agreement. As they turned to talk, I interrupted by pushing a metaphorical pause button, ‘And how else could you do this?’ They looked puzzled then one said, ‘We could each write down a purpose statement on a post-it note then compare and contrast what we’ve written?’ I repeated, ‘And how else could you do it?’

They looked confused and then thought hard. ‘We could split into 2 x 3s, work on one question each then compare?’, ‘We could brainstorm ideas on a flipchart?’, ‘We could share our visions of a team from hell, what to avoid at all costs?’, ‘We could draw pictures instead of writing words?’ They combined the final 3. Each person grabbed a coloured pen, stepped up and a provocative, vivid, collage emerged. Their chosen technique generated laughter, insight and great ideas!

The principle here is how to challenge habitual, default patterns of behaviour, how to pause and reflect critically and creatively before diving into action. Posing the simple question, ‘How else could we do this?’ can significantly enhance team energy, engagement – and effectiveness.

76 Comments

Sandra Whiles

7/1/2017 10:12:49 pm

Thanks nick. Helpful to my thinking as I plan for some team development work I've been asked to shape.

Nick Wright

7/1/2017 10:13:36 pm

Thanks Sandra. That's encouraging to hear. Let me know how you get on!

Michael Cardus

7/1/2017 11:04:34 pm

Nice example.

7/1/2017 11:05:10 pm

Thanks, Michael.

Filao Wilson

8/1/2017 11:16:27 am

Love this approach Nick - for me, it underlines the importance of addressing challenge in the contracting process. Supportive challenge is a core coaching skill but not for all individuals/all groups.

8/1/2017 11:19:58 am

Thanks Filao. Yes, I think it is one of the advantages of having a team coach, especially in the initial stage where a team is trying to break away from its default patterns of behaviour. Over time, it's about enabling the team to challenge and develop its own awareness and practice.

Laura Rose-Baker LLB MSc

8/1/2017 11:21:19 am

I love this Nick - it's so familiar. Rather than boil the ocean by tackling everything, it is so much more fruitful to step back to identify what's the key question we need to answer first? Then you certainly need to be able to weather the strange looks as you ask and ask and ask the same question again to get beyond the initial reflex answer. However it's absolutely worth it. 'How else could we do this?' is a great question Nick to get teams thinking creatively about the process (which is often seen as dull). And lay the foundation for a more creative outcome too. Thanks for sharing.

8/1/2017 11:28:15 am

Thanks Laura. Yes, in my experience of working with teams, it's attention to the 'how' that is most often neglected and, paradoxically, most transformative if addressed. I think this area relates to personal leadership within teams too. If people say e.g. they find their team meetings boring or frustrating, I will challenge back with questions such as, 'What's your contribution to what you are experiencing?' and 'What are you willing to take responsibility for?' At first, people often look puzzled by this but, when the proverbial pennies drop, it really can make an incredible difference to how people experience and behave in meetings and well as the quality of outcomes they achieve.

10/1/2017 08:58:32 am

Couldn't agree more!

10/1/2017 08:58:58 am

Thanks Laura! :)

Bob Larcher

8/1/2017 11:29:06 am

There's nothing better than a good question!!

8/1/2017 11:30:55 am

Hi Bob. I find it interesting that, so often, the good questions are the simplest. This is where, as one person commented, 'coaching is the art of the obvious'. It's often about raising awareness of that which lays hidden in plain sight.

Pete Mosley

8/1/2017 11:34:14 am

Another great article, Nick thank you.

8/1/2017 11:34:54 am

Thanks for your encouraging feedback, Pete - I do appreciate it.

Cath Norris

8/1/2017 11:35:37 am

Great Nick, love it! I'm reminded of conscious movement practice, of resisting the first movement impulse, of suspending action and waiting for the second or third impulse before moving. It always reveals new and surprising movement phrases and 'stories'.

8/1/2017 11:37:00 am

Thanks Cath. I haven't heard of 'conscious movement practice'. Do you have an example from experience that you would be happy to share? Sounds fascinating!

10/1/2017 08:47:37 am

Conscious movement practice is based on following the body's impulse to move and allowing that movement to unfold and reveal phrases and stories. It's the physical self unfolding whatever is going on or experiences that have been held in the body for some time. Consciousness follows the body which is given free reign to move.
An example was turning up at movement classes for several months unconsciously dressed in what could be described as 'little girl clothes' and then finding myself stomping around the room raging and furious, acting out scenarios where my will was severely thwarted as a child. Through holding back on my first impulse and waiting for a secondary impulse I revealed impulses which were actively discouraged in me as a child - such as collapsing into myself in despair or turning away from the figures who were thwarting me and following through on my desires.

10/1/2017 08:48:43 am

Thanks Cath. Intriguing! :)

Dr. Ingrid M. Hayes-Burrell, DBA

8/1/2017 12:10:58 pm

Great article and very timely for projects that seem to lose momentum.

8/1/2017 12:13:12 pm

Thanks Ingrid. Yes, sometimes projects lose momentum because the way in which project teams work drain people of their enthusiasm, energy and ideas.

Deborah Thomas

10/1/2017 08:57:00 am

Good stuff! I love that you led them to generate their own ideas as to how to approach the project with one simple question! "How else could we do this?"

10/1/2017 08:57:36 am

Thanks Deborah!

Pamela Hunt

10/1/2017 09:00:40 am

This is interesting.

10/1/2017 09:01:18 am

Thanks Pamela. Which aspect captured your interest..?

Dave Smith

10/1/2017 09:05:09 am

I'll have to say I'm guilty of "default mode"... but I'm not compulsive on sticking to it to the letter: I tend to begin in an identical fashion but then deviate according to audience needs - actually relishing doing something unique.

I *do* like your point that a meeting facilitator should challenge thinking and interject with something meaningful that causes the group to take stock of their situation; you're bringing value by reminding them to explore alternatives, addressing a potential danger of blindly continuing down the same path. It's less about training but more taking a back seat to let learning grow and picking a suitable time to step in.

10/1/2017 09:05:49 am

Well said, Dave.

Simon Laurie

10/1/2017 11:03:16 am

Good challenge. A good friend and colleague who sadly died a few years ago used to say "One choice is no choice; two choices is a dilemma and three choices or more is true choice". What we do as coaches is help people and teams/groups come up with as many choices as possible and identify the criteria as to how they then make the choice between the choices (or options). I tend to make the process transparent so that they understand why I keep asking "What else"!!

10/1/2017 11:04:26 am

Thanks Simon. Those are wise words from your friend! Good reminder on keeping the intention and process explicit too.

Pooja Saxena Bhatnagar

10/1/2017 01:55:46 pm

So true Nick. It also helps people realise and be pleasantly surprised at how many options they 'actually' have and they are happy with the 'one' suggested by someone. This process of having many options and then 'choosing' also leaves people feeling empowered!

10/1/2017 01:57:29 pm

Thanks Pooja. I think that's an important point about the experience of choosing. You may find this related short piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/choose

Todd A. Kauffman SWP

10/1/2017 07:51:55 pm

Nick always appreciate your posts very thought provoking! Thank you for sharing.

10/1/2017 07:52:29 pm

Thanks for your encouraging feedback, Todd. Much appreciated!

Patricia (Tricia) Kennedy

10/1/2017 07:53:57 pm

Thanks for the post, Nick Wright. I feel like I read a ton about the value of following intuition without any discussion of the similarities and differences between intuition and habit, or when intuition is or isn't appropriate ... these appear to be important and critical distinctions that I feel are often overlooked given how much we know today from social science research ... your story seems to provide an example of how easy it is to fall into traps common to all of us and how the brain works. Your thoughts?

10/1/2017 07:56:38 pm

Hi Tricia. I think that's an interesting question. Could be worth having a glance at Eugene Sadler-Smith's work in the area of intuition - he has some very useful insights in this area.

Ian Henderson

10/1/2017 07:57:47 pm

The quality of your team/organisation/coaching/life is in direct proportion to the quality of your questions to yourself and others. I'm sure someone famous said that!!!!

10/1/2017 07:58:38 pm

Hi Ian. It sounds Einsteinesque to me!

Richard Geisel

10/1/2017 08:16:35 pm

Thanks Nick, it's a great idea to look at more ways than one to approach a problem or goal. The first part of everyday I have to remind myself that the lens I see things through is flawed. That I don't always see things the way they truly are and that I need to be more humble in my opinions and thereby become less judgmental of myself and others. That is a work in progress.

10/1/2017 08:22:32 pm

Thanks for such a humble response, Richard. I try to remind myself that much of what I think and believe - including the language I use to articulate it - is socially and culturally constructed. It means that what I perceive as 'things the way they truly are' is a subconscious reflection of how I construe it. It's one reason why I blog and value people's responses - to see and hear how others construe and make sense of what we/they perceive.

Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD

10/1/2017 11:19:39 pm

Thank you, Nick, for reminding us of the power of offering opportunities for reflection to our clients, and of the results that can come from our clients honoring our offering!

10/1/2017 11:20:29 pm

Thanks Carter...and well said.

Stephen Beukes

11/1/2017 10:14:46 am

Again another fabulous article, Nick. Such a wonderful reminder of the role a coach can play. Not proposing a process but staying with the question.

11/1/2017 10:17:59 am

Many thanks, Stephen. In my experience, staying with the question can make a real difference for the client. It can also evoke resistance. Noticing and exploring the resistance with the client can often prove transformational.

Jane Keep

11/1/2017 10:19:18 am

In a Phd I did on developing self-care at work with Coaches (amongst others) I observed many coaches whose default was to use models and tools which stinted their natural coaching way - and for many showed a lack of confidence in their own ability to ask the questions needed. We could be the most accredited, qualified, trained coach - with an armful of tools, but, if we are not in relationship with ourselves, insightful, aware, self honest, self caring, with a level of confidence that allows us to go with the flow with any client without calling on defaults then the coaching may not be of the quality needed at that time.

11/1/2017 10:22:48 am

Hi Jane. Yes, it's possible for coaching models, techniques etc to become a source of interference for coaches, especially during training when learning and practising something new. If the interference persists, I find the Gestalt notion of 'contact' useful. This entails asking myself, e.g. 'What is the quality of contact with myself, with the client, with the issue, with God?'

Kevin Waldbillig

12/1/2017 08:51:06 am

Some of the methods you mention Nick also gives opportunities for those who don't always have a voice in the group-great post!

12/1/2017 08:56:01 am

Thanks Kevin. You are right - it does enable voices and ideas to emerge in the team that may be different to its traditional default mode.

Jacqueline Hill

12/1/2017 12:33:42 pm

Default mode - ouch! Thank you for the very timely reminder to be just as aware of this potential rut when co-creating strategic away days with boards and SMTs as I am when coaching 1:1. Happy New Year.

12/1/2017 12:34:18 pm

You're welcome, Jacqueline. And Happy 2017 to you too!

Howard B. Esbin, PhD

12/1/2017 03:41:48 pm

Visual thinking and images reveal insights that words and numbers alone cannot.

12/1/2017 03:44:38 pm

Hi Howard I agree. Visual can create as well as reveal fresh insights...as can experimenting with other different modalities, e.g. physical enactment. This is where I believe ideas from e.g. Gestalt psychology can prove particularly creative and useful.

Marianne Dillane

12/1/2017 03:46:59 pm

A really interesting read.

12/1/2017 03:47:27 pm

Thanks for your encouraging feedback, Marianne.

Greg Phillips

12/1/2017 09:52:45 pm

Nick this is fantastic. I can't wait to try this out. Thank you for sharing!

12/1/2017 09:53:33 pm

Many thanks, Greg. Let us know what happens when you do!

Linda Randazzo

13/1/2017 10:29:27 am

Ahhhh, the value and result of productive questioning😊

I often state that my role is to draw out the trainee's thoughts and ideas , not to tell them everything I think. Thanks for this post.

13/1/2017 10:31:56 am

Thanks Linda. We could also think of coaching as raising awareness and cathartic space. That's one reason why I find Gestalt coaching so fascinating - and illuminating!

Denise Kennedy

13/1/2017 10:32:44 am

I like this approach, simple and gets the team to think differently.

13/1/2017 10:33:30 am

Thanks Denise...yes, and to feel and act differently.

Sapna Mohan

13/1/2017 08:50:41 pm

Great way to connect to a common theme.

13/1/2017 08:51:07 pm

Thanks Sapna.

Gale Vincent

14/1/2017 11:48:30 am

Great reminder ... so simple so powerful ! Thank you.

14/1/2017 11:49:10 am

Thanks Gale. You're welcome!

Sue Reed TAP.Dip, ABLD, MInstSMM, CIoM, ACIPD

15/1/2017 03:34:48 pm

Your approach ensured they owned and are responsible for the solutions and ROI of time.

15/1/2017 03:40:34 pm

Hi Sue. Yes, and I think it enabled them to co-create more inspiring and effective results too.

Jennifer Le Page

15/1/2017 03:41:49 pm

Good ideas here. If you're ever stuck for how to get yourself or your team out of these same same thinking patterns, I suggest reading Dave Gray's great book on this called Gamestorming.

15/1/2017 03:43:27 pm

Thanks Jennifer. I have heard of the book but not read it. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll have a look at it!

Harriët Andriessen

16/1/2017 08:51:02 am

A very interesting and useful way to reframe the 'default' approach, I'll definitely use this in my sessions, thank you Nick!

16/1/2017 08:51:57 am

Thanks Harriët! I'd be very interested to hear about what happens when you do. :)

Sarah Morgan-Palmer

16/1/2017 03:59:04 pm

Thought provoking article. I'm going to try this out in meetings and also ask myself the same question when looking for different ways to look at recurring issues. Thank you.

16/1/2017 03:59:53 pm

Thanks Sarah. That sounds great. Let me know how you get on! :)

Amanda Cookson

17/1/2017 03:48:12 pm

I like this approach - thank you for sharing a very simple but effective way to expand thinking - definitely one to try out and experiment with.

17/1/2017 03:48:53 pm

Thanks Amanda. I would be very interested to hear what happens when you try it out!

John (Norval) Settle

18/1/2017 01:52:21 pm

Just as an aside: The situation described is one I sometimes run into, and reflects a misuse of teams. The leader who chartered this team owed the group a clearly articulated purpose, and failed to do that. Once that expectation has been set, the creative methodology presented here is great for dealing with the next questions -- how, when, who, etc.

18/1/2017 01:54:32 pm

Hi John. I think that begs interesting and important questions about the leadership culture in a team and organisation. In this team and organisation, the 'how' question related to how the team would work co-actively with the leader to define its optimal purpose.

Stella Goddard BA (Hons) Registered MBACP (Accred)

27/1/2017 10:06:24 am

I really like the 'How else?' question Nick. It is one my Supervisor uses with me and I find it very helpful towards helping me think more deeply. When you are asked the question it is tempting to go to 'what you've always done.' Asking the question again and reflecting on a response again causes one to think outside the box. (my box?) It is also a brilliant question for clients. I think it could cause a pause especially if they are stuck but done with sensitivity and respect could potentially open up a new way of thinking and being. Sometimes we need to take a moment to 'think again before responding.' Wonderful for personal and professional growth and development. I could really feel the emerging new enthusiasm with your group. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

27/1/2017 10:15:51 am

Thanks Stella. Yes, I think it's something about pausing and reflecting, stepping back for a moment from 'doing what we always do because that's what we do'. 'What else?', 'Who else?' and 'When else..?' can be great questions too.

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