How Long Does This Take?

​Colleagues,
 
This week we’ve looked at three sunrays from our issue “our meetings are unproductive”:

• People have their own agendas
• Too much information
• There’s not enough time

 
There were six other sunrays. If I had done this with an actual team, we might have had 15-20 sunrays. This can make the stair step process long, but several sunrays will be similar, for example:

• Not enough time
• Too much information
• Focus on the wrong things

 
These are all permutations of the same concern. It is still valuable to look at each one independently as the change in phrasing can encourage a change in perspective. However, as themes start repeating the process accelerates.
 
Identifying the root problem is critical to acting strategically, but what if you are dealing with an issue that doesn’t deserve an hour of problem identification?
 
Imagine I’m trying to decide what form and amount of communication to share on an issue. I ask “what problem am I trying to solve?” What is the essential purpose of the communication? If there is only one purpose, then my choice should be clear. If there are several, I can work through each option in my head by applying the four prompts. Patterns will arise to help me make an intentional decision. 
 
Your turn. Get a team together and tear into an issue. If you already have the sunburst, just do the stair step. Apply the prompts. Let me know how it goes!
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick