Using Group Process Techniques to improve meeting effectiveness
運(yùn)用團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技術(shù)來(lái)提高會(huì)議效率
原作者: James L. Creighton 翻譯者:鄭小華
Professional meeting facilitators have developed a number of "group process" techniques designed to help groups work more effectively in meetings. These group process techniques do make a difference. Research has shown that groups that use group process procedures are more satisfied with their decisions and more committed to their implementation.
專業(yè)的會(huì)議主持人應(yīng)該具備一些成熟的“團(tuán)隊(duì)流程”技能來(lái)幫助你的團(tuán)隊(duì)在會(huì)議上更加有效率。這些團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技能必須做到與眾不同。根據(jù)研究表明使用團(tuán)隊(duì)流程使得(團(tuán)隊(duì))更加滿意(會(huì)議)結(jié)論和更加堅(jiān)定執(zhí)行任務(wù)。
Does this mean you need a facilitator for your meeting? What a facilitator brings to a meeting is knowledge of these techniques, and even more important, an understanding of which technique is useful in a particular situation and a sense of timing as to when to suggest it. So if your meeting is exceptionally important, if there are major disputes, or if key players need to be participants rather than meeting leaders, then, "yes," a facilitator may be very useful.
這樣說(shuō)是不是你的會(huì)議需要一個(gè)那樣的主持人呢?主持人帶給會(huì)議的將是這些技能的知識(shí),更重要的是,在特殊的情況一個(gè)易理解的技能的運(yùn)用和時(shí)間上的把握。所以如果你的會(huì)議特別的重要,假如你(會(huì)議)有很多爭(zhēng)論需要討論,又或者有關(guān)鍵人物將參加會(huì)議,那肯定地,一個(gè)主持人是非常有用的。
But most managers are in scores of meetings, maybe hundreds of meetings every month. Senior managers often spend more that 50% of their time in meetings. The reality is that most managers won't have access to facilitators for most meetings. The challenge is to get value from the group process techniques that facilitators use, without always having to have a professional facilitator around to tell you which technique to use.
但是大多數(shù)經(jīng)理需要參加非常多的會(huì)議,可能一個(gè)月會(huì)有數(shù)以百計(jì)的會(huì)議。威望高的經(jīng)理們一般會(huì)花超過(guò)50%的時(shí)間在會(huì)議上。但事實(shí)上很多經(jīng)理不能接受主持人進(jìn)入好多會(huì)議。挑戰(zhàn)在于在通過(guò)使用主持人的團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技巧而不是主持人在旁邊告訴你(經(jīng)理)要使用哪些技巧之中獲得價(jià)值。
There are some basic principles you'll need to follow. Otherwise you may find yourself doing something that is the equivalent to using a spreadsheet application when you really need word processing – it may be an absolutely wonderful spreadsheet program, but if it is grossly inappropriate to the task it will impede rather than help the group work effectively.
這有些基本原則需要遵從。否則你可能發(fā)現(xiàn)自己做些事情的時(shí)候等同于當(dāng)你真需要輸入文字但是卻使用空格鍵 – 它可能是絕對(duì)好的空格鍵,但如果非常的不適合任務(wù),會(huì)阻礙而不是幫助提高團(tuán)隊(duì)協(xié)助效率。
The secret to avoiding this kind of problem is careful pre-planning of your meeting. I frequently tell my clients that at least 50% of the value I bring to their meetings as a facilitator will come from the work I do before the meeting. All the groundwork has to be laid before the first "Good morning, the purpose of today's meeting is...." An effective manager recognizes that he or she (or someone he/she designates) needs to spend upfront time to do the kind of meeting planning that a facilitator would do.避免這類問(wèn)題的秘密是細(xì)心地做好計(jì)劃。我多次同我的當(dāng)事人說(shuō),至少50%的價(jià)值我?guī)Ыo他們的會(huì)議,作為一個(gè)主持人來(lái)工作我將在會(huì)議前做好。所有基本的東西得在說(shuō)“早上好,今天會(huì)議的目的是…”之前布置好。一個(gè)有效率的經(jīng)理識(shí)別他或她需要花預(yù)定的時(shí)間來(lái)做這一類主持人常做的會(huì)議計(jì)劃。
Here are some of the issues you need to address during your pre-planning:
這里有一些問(wèn)題在你的預(yù)備計(jì)劃中你需要提出:
1. What type of meeting is this?◆◆◆◆
There are a number of very different meeting types, for example:
Information briefings Program/project planning or review
Trust building/team-building Decision-making
Generating new ideas or approaches Dispute resolution
Strategic planning Problem solving/crisis resolution
Commitment-building Celebrations
什么類型的會(huì)議?
有一些不同類型的會(huì)議,例如:
信息匯報(bào) 項(xiàng)目/工程計(jì)劃或者審核
信任建立/團(tuán)隊(duì)建立 制定決策
孕育新構(gòu)思或者處理爭(zhēng)議決定
戰(zhàn)略性計(jì)劃 問(wèn)題解決/重要決定
承諾建立 慶祝
The type of meeting, combined with the subject matter, tells you who needs to participate, what kind of interaction is needed to accomplish the meeting purpose, and provides the context for selection of group process techniques.
會(huì)議的類型,聯(lián)系會(huì)議的主題,告訴你需要誰(shuí)參加,哪些相互影響是需要實(shí)現(xiàn)會(huì)議的目的,和提供來(lái)龍去脈來(lái)選擇團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技能。
Many meetings play multiple meeting functions. Agenda Item #1 may simply be an informational briefing, while Agenda Item #2 is a decision-making item, and Agenda Item #3 is a problem-solving item. Your agenda needs to clearly specify what kind of item it is. This tells people; "Here's what we expect from you during this agenda item." When this is not clear, people may engage in dysfunctional behavior even when trying very hard to be a good team player because they don't understand what they are being asked to do.
很多會(huì)議扮演著多重的會(huì)議功能。議程1可能是簡(jiǎn)單的信息匯報(bào),而議程2則是決策確定,議程3是問(wèn)題解決。你的議程需要清楚的表明是哪種類型。這里告訴大家,這些就是我們通過(guò)這些議程對(duì)你的預(yù)期。當(dāng)這些不明確時(shí),人們就可能會(huì)極力去理解而表現(xiàn)不正常,甚至非常困難去做一個(gè)好的團(tuán)隊(duì)成員,因?yàn)樗麄儾幻靼妆唤腥プ鍪裁矗?br />
In the future, as various kinds of collaborative technologies becomes common, defining the meeting purpose will be a prelude to the question; "How many senses does this meeting require?" If the purpose of the meeting is trust-building, you probably need a face-to-face meeting with everybody is present in the room (all five senses). If the meeting is strictly informational, you may do better to post the information on the intranet, and let people download it at their own convenience (1–2 senses).
未來(lái),各種各樣的協(xié)作技能將會(huì)變得很普遍,給會(huì)議的目的作出定義將會(huì)成為問(wèn)題的序;這個(gè)會(huì)議有多少個(gè)意義呢?如果會(huì)議的目的是信任的建立,那么你很可能會(huì)在會(huì)議室里面和每個(gè)人面對(duì)面的進(jìn)行(所有5種意義)。如果會(huì)議僅僅是發(fā)布消息,你在內(nèi)部發(fā)布消息應(yīng)該做得更好,和讓人們很舒適地下載。
Where in the decision-making process are we?
Reaching a decision usually requires a number of discrete steps, such as defining the problem, generating alternatives, and so on. Sometimes those steps all occur in one meeting. But on major decisions these steps are often sequenced over a number of meetings.
在確定決策的時(shí)候我們應(yīng)該在哪呢?
到達(dá)決定的時(shí)候通常都要通過(guò)很多獨(dú)立的步驟,例如定義問(wèn)題,醞釀選擇等等。有時(shí)候那些步驟發(fā)生在同一個(gè)會(huì)議,但是主要的決斷這些步驟通常會(huì)通過(guò)一連串的會(huì)議進(jìn)行確定。
At each step, different behavior is required of participants. So it is imperative that the meeting planner specify where in the decision making process this meeting (or this agenda item) is.
在每個(gè)步驟,要求參與者有不同的表態(tài)。所以會(huì)議計(jì)劃人員指出會(huì)議在什么時(shí)候作出決策或者議程是什么是非常重要的。
There are a number of ways of describing the steps in the decision-making process, but the one I continue to find the most universal is:
Define the problem or opportunity (may include defining criteria for acceptability or success)
Generate alternatives
eva luate alternatives
Select a course of action
Define the implementation plan
Establish mechanisms for determining whether or not your approach is working
有非常多的方法去描述制定決策的步驟,但是有一點(diǎn)我一直覺(jué)得最常見的是:
定義問(wèn)題或者機(jī)會(huì)(可能包括定義可接受或成功的準(zhǔn)則)
產(chǎn)生選擇
衡量選擇
選擇方針
定義完成的計(jì)劃
建立無(wú)論你是否開始工作的決定的方法
I find it very helpful, particularly among people who work together frequently, to have a clearly defined series of steps that the group uses whenever they make decisions. It doesn't have to be the one above, so long as it works for the kinds of issues people in your organization are addressing. What does matter is that it is used frequently enough so that people develop a common language and common set of expectations for each step in the process. I recommend you post these steps in each meeting room, so that participants can refer to them at a glance.
我發(fā)現(xiàn)非常有用,特別對(duì)于一些經(jīng)常在一起工作的人,清晰地定義一系列團(tuán)隊(duì)任何時(shí)候作出決策的步驟。什么都不需要做,只要在你的組織里工作你必須要寫入通訊錄。這是怎么回事經(jīng)常使用它會(huì)使人們?cè)谶M(jìn)程中每個(gè)步驟發(fā)展成共同的語(yǔ)言和共同的期待。需要提醒你在每個(gè)會(huì)議室發(fā)布那些步驟,使得參與者能一目了然。
Which group process technique is appropriate for this meeting (or for this agenda item)?
Most group process techniques are useful for only one of the steps in the decision making process. A key example is the technique known as "brainstorming." The key elements of brainstorming are to engage the group in generating a large quantity of alternatives, suspending judgment as to which ideas are workable. This is a very powerful technique – in fact, it often generates so many options that it overpowers the team's ability to eva luate the alternatives in a reasonable period of time.
哪些團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技術(shù)適合會(huì)議呢(或者適合議程)?
很多團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技術(shù)僅僅對(duì)其中一些作出決策的環(huán)節(jié)有用。一個(gè)重要的例子技術(shù)上認(rèn)為是“集體討論”。集體討論關(guān)鍵的因素是吸引團(tuán)隊(duì)產(chǎn)生一個(gè)大量的選擇,中止判斷哪些想法更加可使用。這是一個(gè)非常有威力的技能—實(shí)際上,它經(jīng)常在合理的時(shí)間壓倒團(tuán)隊(duì)力量對(duì)選擇作出評(píng)估而產(chǎn)生很多選擇。
But it is a technique that is useful primarily for the "generate alternatives" step in decision making. Yet I've seen people use the technique at many other steps in the process. The participants will obediently generate all kinds of answers, but then nobody will know what to do with these answers because they don't seem to be contributing to resolution. In fact, they seem to be taking you back to an earlier step in the process (they are).
但是它對(duì)作出決議的“產(chǎn)生選擇”最初環(huán)節(jié)里有用。然而我已經(jīng)見到人們?cè)谄渌芏嗟沫h(huán)節(jié)里也用到,參與者將順從地產(chǎn)生各種各樣的答案,但是沒(méi)人知道對(duì)于這些答案如何去做,因?yàn)樗麄兛雌饋?lái)不像對(duì)解決問(wèn)題有幫助。事實(shí)上,他們看起來(lái)像是將你帶回最初的階段。
Here's a quick summary of some of the issues at each step in the decision making process, and some of the useful group process techniques for each step:
這里有些關(guān)于在制定決策的每個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)的總結(jié)和一些有用的團(tuán)隊(duì)流程技能:
Define the Problem or Opportunity
The biggest problem with this step is to get people to do it! Groups have an amazing capacity for skipping over problem definition and going straight to thinking about possible solutions. Not only do they go straight to solutions, they go straight to the solutions they already know how to do, (e.g. if your company makes widgets, you'll assume that the solution to the problem is to make a widget).
定義問(wèn)題或者機(jī)會(huì)
這個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)的最大問(wèn)題是讓人們?nèi)プ觯F(tuán)隊(duì)有一種神奇的力量跳過(guò)問(wèn)題去定義和繼續(xù)思考解決問(wèn)題的可能性。不但止他們直接去解決,他們直接去解決他們已經(jīng)知道的(例如,如果你的公司是做飾品的,你將假設(shè)去解決制作飾品的問(wèn)題)。
The problem with this behavior is that you are likely to come up with a truly wonderful solution to the wrong problem, or you don't think through the fundamental issues so you come up with something that is just a patch on top of prior patches.
這個(gè)行為的問(wèn)題是你有可能準(zhǔn)備給錯(cuò)誤的問(wèn)題很好的解決方法,或者你沒(méi)有徹底想清楚基本的問(wèn)題所以提供的東西像個(gè)補(bǔ)丁。
Here are a few techniques for helping groups define problems:
這里有些技能幫助你團(tuán)隊(duì)定義問(wèn)題:
Force Field Analysis: Have the group brainstorm two lists: (1) forces that are "driving" for change; (2) forces that are "restraining" change. Then discuss strategies to eliminate the restraining forces and capitalize on the driving forces.
說(shuō)服力分析:做兩個(gè)團(tuán)隊(duì)集體討論的清單:(1)說(shuō)服力是改變的驅(qū)動(dòng);(2)說(shuō)服力是改變的約束。然后討論對(duì)策去排除約束的力量和利用力量的驅(qū)動(dòng)。
Relationship Diagrams: Write a short statement of an issue or problem on a card (or large post-it) and stick it on a blank wall. Give everyone cards and ask them to identify the factors that affect the issue or problem, writing one idea per card (big enough so that they are easy to read). Move the cards around so that the factors that are related to each other are located together. Analyze the relationships. Use colored tape or strings to show cause-effect relationship. Those cards that are most often seen as being a cause (have the most tape or strings attached) are more likely to be the root cause of your problem.
圖表關(guān)系:在卡片上寫一個(gè)爭(zhēng)議和問(wèn)題簡(jiǎn)短說(shuō)明和貼在白墻上。給每個(gè)人一個(gè)卡片和問(wèn)他們識(shí)別對(duì)爭(zhēng)論和問(wèn)題的的影響因素,在每個(gè)卡片上寫上一個(gè)構(gòu)思(足夠大的卡片方便他們閱讀)。傳遞這些卡片所以那些因素關(guān)系到每個(gè)人而聯(lián)系在一起。分析這些關(guān)系。用一些涂有顏色的繩子去展示因果關(guān)系。那些卡片最經(jīng)常被看作為起因(有很多繩子)最可能是問(wèn)題的根源。
Immersion: Hold the session in a facility that permits the group to move around, break off into small groups, or even work alone. Before the team gathers, create a "high stimulus" environment containing anything that might be related to the issue -- articles, books, pictures, (even toys that can be used to diagram or model ideas, e.g. Tinker Toys). Break into small groups and ask small groups to prowl through any of the materials they want. Give them a time deadline to report back anything they've found that might apply to the problem. After the reports, agree on promising trends and give teams new assignments related to those trends. Only after you've totally immersed yourselves in thinking about the problem from many different perspectives does the team try to reach agreement on the problem definition.
浸泡:保持會(huì)議在便利中而允許團(tuán)隊(duì)流動(dòng),中止進(jìn)入小團(tuán)隊(duì)或者孤身奮戰(zhàn)。在團(tuán)隊(duì)集合前,建立一個(gè)包括任何事物—藝術(shù)品,書籍,圖畫,(甚至玩具都可以用在圖表或者模型構(gòu)思,例如廷克玩具)的“亢奮”的環(huán)境。闖進(jìn)小團(tuán)體請(qǐng)求他們尋求物質(zhì)需要。給他們一個(gè)期限匯報(bào)他們發(fā)現(xiàn)可能對(duì)解決問(wèn)題有幫助的任何事情。在匯報(bào)后,與(他們)達(dá)成一直的前景希望,并給予他們關(guān)于這前景的新的任務(wù)。只有在你完全沉浸在從不同角度思考問(wèn)題,團(tuán)隊(duì)試著在問(wèn)題定義上達(dá)成一致。
Invent the Problem: After "immersion," state the problem as if you know the outcome, but just don't know how you got there. For example, a car rental executive might say: "Picture this. You've got no central reservation system and things are running very well. The workload is up but costs are way down. How did you do it?"
創(chuàng)造問(wèn)題:在“浸泡”之后,好像知道結(jié)果一樣陳述問(wèn)題,但是僅僅不知道怎樣做到。例如,一個(gè)汽車出租管理員說(shuō)“拍攝這個(gè),你已經(jīng)沒(méi)有中央分車帶系統(tǒng)并且所有東西都很好工作,工作量上升但成本卻減低,你是怎么做到的?”