3D Juggling 464: Oh... something!

Claire writes: "As a manager or a leader, how often do you think "Oh no... Oh Help... Oh dear... " when someone brings a tricky situation to you in a one to one? And do you ever jump into the situation with them in an attempt to help them solve the problem?

I was observing two people working together in a training situation this last week and the manager had clearly begun to notice a number of issues arising from the story which his colleague had brought to him. During the conversation they tried to work together to solve the problem. he dropped in some great insights but they got drowned in the noise of the solutions that were flying about. When we did the feedback afterwards, I invited him to identify the issues. He had noticed more than six - they were about stakeholders and organisational culture and assumptions. Taking a heliciopter view totally changes the way in which we view a so-called problem. And when managers and peers can do this with their teams it can transform what's going on in that situation at work. Of course when we don't take a helicopter view, we risk jumping into the problem in an attempt to solve it. And that can often feel like a whirlpool or a vortex with no way out.

Solutions are far more effective when they address the real situation and not the presenting problem. What's great about taking a helicopter view, is that you don't need to have identified all the issues. Once you can encourage the person you are talking with to join you in looking from a new perspective, they can see them too! So next time you can hear your mind saying "Oh no... Oh Help... Oh dear... " try inviting your colleague to take a step back and look at the whole situation from a different perspective.

PS After the feedback someone asked - how hight can you take someone with this. The answer is as high as is useful to them. I have worked with people who have looked down from several levels and had new insights.

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who gets stuck in the vortex.

Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/


© 2010 3D Coaching Ltd
May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

Follow us on Twitter 3dclaire
Facebook 3D Coaching

3D Juggling 436: Hold your nerve

Claire writes: 'The broken foot is now healed, but the memory of 2 weeks in a Butlin's mobility scooter is still firmly alive. The first evening we were there I was trying to get back to my accommodation at 10.30pm after a long day's work and finding going up and down pavements a challenge to my driving! A helpful member of staff pointed out a traffic barrier on the road and told me that if I drove towards it, the barrier would lift up and allow me through. And there was the challenge. If he was right I'd get back in extra quick time. And if he was wrong, I would have a long drive in my scooter to get back onto the pavements. So I slowly drove up to the barrier which was about level with my nose. They're designed for lorries, so it only lifted when I was within millimetres. But it did lift and I carried on my journey!

That was certainly a case of holding my nerve even though I was unsure about what would happen next. That's what needs to happen in effective conversations at work. Sometimes we need to open a conversation without the security of knowing the other 5 bullet points which we have as our comfort in a notebook and trust our colleague and the process. Because then our colleague will find the way forward with our support rather than our solution. And because you won't know what will happen next, you will need to hold your nerve. And in doing that you are demonstrating trust which is a very powerful thing.

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who holds their nerve at work!

Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

3D Juggling 422: Whirlpools

There's an Action Learning Set Facilitator Training coming up on 27th April and a new Coaching for Excellence starting in July. If you'd like to come, email sue@3dcoaching.com

Claire writes: "How often do we get in the way when we are listening to other people at work? As soon as we start thinking 'Oh really', 'Oh dear', 'Oh no...', we begin to get hooked into the story which we are hearing. And if the teller is feeling in a whirlpool, there's a high risk that we'll jump into the whirlpool as well!

Using a coaching approach at work means keeping out of the whirlpool. Keeping out! Because once we jump in, we both start to thrash about looking for a solution and a way forward. The coaches ability to help their colleague explore the situation from a new perspective is dependent on them being objective. And when the temptation is to dive in and rescue your colleague, consider what will happen next time they find a similar problem. Unless this is an emergency, it is usually far more productive to work with your colleague to come to a good solution themselves. The skill is to help them to see a way forward - by listening and helping them to see their situation differently."

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who dives in!

Discuss this week's juggling at http://www.3dcoaching.blogspot.com/

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com