From Problems to Solutions: A tool to Boost Team Autonomy
A simple yet practical method for empowering your team to overcome challenges independently
The tool that i’m about to share might sound old-fashioned at a glance, but in my opinion sticking to simple tools can really help teams make progress without stealing the spotlight from them.
Steps to Structured Meetings for Collaborative Problem-Solving:
Gather with Team Members (ideally, the whole team if feasible)
Don’t worry about how to solve them yet; just list the problems with the team on a board.
Key question:
What could we solve today that would make your job more efficient?
What are the three main issues preventing you from doing your job better (in terms of work processes, work environment, team relationships)?
If we could change just one thing to speed up our process during product development, what would it be?
Appoint a Facilitator for the Session
This person will facilitate the session by managing time, ensuring prolonged topics are concluded, and making sure the meeting yields concrete outcomes. Sometimes, we assign this role to the CEO, CTO, or the most senior team member.
Prioritize the Problems
Once the problems are listed, use a voting method to prioritize them from most critical to least.
Discuss Potential Solutions One by One
Address each problem starting from the top. Focus on one problem at a time. Don’t rush. The problem list might seem overwhelming at a glance, but remember the rule: improving by 1% each time can result in 37 times growth by the end of the year. The same applies to any timeframe. There’s a big difference between dedicating 10 minutes to a single problem and trying to solve three problems simultaneously in 10 minutes.
Define Actions for the Top Three Critical Problems
Conclude the first session by defining actions for the top three problems (output: Who/When/How), and save the remaining problems for the next session. Starting with an achievable number of problems and -even better- solving these problems creates motivation for the team for making problem solving a habit. The first session is always the hardest in terms of motivation. Breaking that “learned helplessness” glass requires motivation.
Ensure Everyone Is Aware of the Critical Problems
Before ending the session, make sure everyone in the room is aware of the chosen critical problems, as solving them may require collaborative effort. Being on the same page is crucial.
That's all! I hope the tool i shared above provides the practical tool that you’ve been looking for 🙏🏻