Brainstorming on a problem with a productivity buddy can be tricky at times.
You want your buddy to find her own solutions.
But she might say: "I don't know what to do".
How should you react?
A thread
You want your buddy to find her own solutions.
But she might say: "I don't know what to do".
How should you react?
A thread
1/ The common reaction here is to come to her rescue by giving your own solutions.
This is especially tempting when your buddy is in distress.
But it's a trap.
What your buddy really need is more time to think about it.
This is especially tempting when your buddy is in distress.
But it's a trap.
What your buddy really need is more time to think about it.
2/ How to give her more time?
What I usually do is to leave a pause.
This helps her relax a bit.
And then the solutions start to pour out of her mouth.
What I usually do is to leave a pause.
This helps her relax a bit.
And then the solutions start to pour out of her mouth.
3/ To keep the flow of ideas coming, try to suspend any sort of judgement.
Your partner must be at ease.
Whatever she is saying, no matter crazy, is a great contribution!
These ideas will be refined later.
Your partner must be at ease.
Whatever she is saying, no matter crazy, is a great contribution!
These ideas will be refined later.
4/ A nice goal to aim for is to find 20 potential options to solve the problem.
This can be challenging at times and your partner will get stuck at some point.
But this is expected.
Just give her more time, and say: "What else?"
This can be challenging at times and your partner will get stuck at some point.
But this is expected.
Just give her more time, and say: "What else?"
5/ Normally, with enough patience, the 20 options are going to come out at some point.
Sometimes your buddy will play silly just to get to the count.
But it's ok, the point is to make her think about the problem :)
Sometimes your buddy will play silly just to get to the count.
But it's ok, the point is to make her think about the problem :)
6/ Finally, when your buddy has exhausted her creative flow, you can consider mentioning other options.
But first: ask for permission to do it.
Usually your buddy will say yes.
But it's always nice to make clear that the aim here is that she finds her own solutions.
But first: ask for permission to do it.
Usually your buddy will say yes.
But it's always nice to make clear that the aim here is that she finds her own solutions.
7/ Then your buddy will pick the solution(s) she wants to apply to solve the problem.
And she can put some of them in her action plan.
And she can put some of them in her action plan.
8/ One interesting variation here is to tell your buddy to rate each solution before taking any decision.
For simplicity, rating from 1 to 10.
Since this takes more time, it's better to give it as an exercise to do on her own for the next call.
For simplicity, rating from 1 to 10.
Since this takes more time, it's better to give it as an exercise to do on her own for the next call.
9/ Also, by thinking about her options alone, you make sure that she's not too much influenced by you.
And she might find a couple of additional solutions by thinking quietly by herself.
Which makes her even more motivated to follow-up on her action plan!
And she might find a couple of additional solutions by thinking quietly by herself.
Which makes her even more motivated to follow-up on her action plan!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
