Hunt out our useless repetitions
Changing approach when "it’s not working"
Perseverance is not always a virtue. It sometimes leads us to continue
doing things which do not actually work... in the hope that our efforts
will wind up bearing fruit in the end. But since this is
not always the case, how can you change approach before wearing out?
Compare
Remember
To say a thing 1 time, 2 times, 3 times without observing any
effect - this is something that should draw our attention. Tireless
repetition has little chance of producing the desired effect:
why should things change if I myself change nothing? On the
contrary, ineffective repetition tends to entrench us in a relational
inertia: if I don't move, the other has no reason to move.
Think about the interaction, not about the other or others
It is tempting, when we don't get what we want, to think: "he
doesn't want to", "they resist change", "he doesn't understand
anything", "he is slow"... Tempting but not very productive
because the view placed upon the other or others whom we find
problematic only serves to reinforce a dynamic which is the opposite of
what we want! It is better to think about the
relationship which has been established between us and of which I
am an agent: What do I say / do in this situation? What effect does
that provoke? How do I react?
Stop doing the usual thing
Does that sound easy? Nonetheless, putting an end to asking,
reproaching, and doing what is logical for us to do requires real effort
and often appears risky: what will happen if I don't ask
any more for what I'm not given? And what to do instead?
An initial stage could consist simply in stopping our habitual action (sometimes announcing it as a logical step, in view of events) and observing the effect produced. It's a question of trying out the "doing less of the same thing."
An initial stage could consist simply in stopping our habitual action (sometimes announcing it as a logical step, in view of events) and observing the effect produced. It's a question of trying out the "doing less of the same thing."
Evaluation
Each question has only one correct response, but be careful: among the possible responses there is one that is "almost correct" and might make the choice harder!
1 / 3
Stop doing what you usually do
According to Palo Alto's
model, what does the statement: "the problem is the solution" mean?
Faced
with a problem, the difficulty is finding the solution ⚠
Even if this is true, this
is not the scenario of Palo Alto's model
A
problem has always several solutions ⚠
Sometimes true, but this is
not what this statement means
A
difficulty becomes a problem because we persist with an ineffective solution ✓
Yes. The problem isn't' so
much the difficulty itself rather our perseverance in a solution which doesn't'
solve it
2 / 3
Recurring requests
You find your team asks for
your advice too often. You have already asked them to be more autonomous,
without success. What do you do?
You
reiterate your demand with greater emphasis so they understand how important it
is ⚠
If they haven't already acknowledged your
demands, repeating won't change anything
You
make sure you are less available on certain topics to show them, they can do
them without you ✓
Good idea! Not immediately replying to questions
that they know how to handle will progressively lead your colleagues to
functioning alone
You
decide to no longer reply to certain demands ⚠
To no longer reply is a bit drastic!
Otherwise, let them know on what you are no longer "available to
help"
You program a training course on how to be more autonomous ⚠
Pointless! It is the dynamics of the work
between you which need to evolve
3 / 3
Asking your superior
You've been alerting your
superior for the last few months: "without extra resources, we will never
reach our objectives». He seems to understand but doesn't provide the requested
means. What do you do to get things moving?
You tell him: "not reaching the objective will have consequences.
I'd like us to look at them together to make sure we are ready to handle
them" ✓
Yes. If the previous alerts had no
effect, it would now be better to discuss the consequences. The question of how
to obtain the objectives might resurface
You remind him of what is at stake: "without extra means, we won't
reach the objectives and risk ..." ⚠
Not sure that this will
change anything as it has already been done
You
draw his attention to another problem: "if we do nothing, the team will
become demoralised" ⚠
He knows this already. And
probably thinks that you know how to manage the situation
You alert his superior ⚠
Not a good idea! This could turn your
superior against you which will not solve anything
Your score is
0/3
You finished!
To review the questions and responses, please choose from the list below.