Build Agreements As You Solve That Problem

How many times during a problem solving effort do you pause to reach an agreement?

In one of the many subtleties of managing a problem solving team we find our leverage in our agreements. When teams take the time to reach and confirm agreements on the details and behaviors as they go they are far more likely to be able to reach agreement on a solution AND the implementation of that solution.

Sometimes agreeing on the right solution to a problem is tougher than coming up with a solution.

We generate lots of ideas. We develop some energy around our own ideas. We fatigue and subliminally wish to move on. We push when we should be listening. All of those issues are handled quickly when our team gets into the habit of reaching agreements.

Agreements on details such as:

how will we interact as a team?
how do we reach decisions?
what is our process for managing conflict?
when do we step away and take a break?
how long will we invest in this project?
what are our roles?
what is our default decision making method if our method fails?
where can we go for help?
what do we do when we breech our agreements?

The teams that I have enjoyed working with the most are skillful at reaching agreements. It's not always the fastest way to move forward, but it is filled with far fewer disappointments and breeches along the way.

What does your team need to reach agreement on in order to solve that problem you've been working on?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

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