Fostering Constructive Debate: Effective Questions and Responses for Better Collaboration

I was recently facilitating a session for a Senior Leadership team and we were exploring Patrick Lencioni’s model of the 5 dysfunctions of the team. After the first element of ‘trust’, which is a fundamental requirement for a high performing cohesive team (think psychological safety as the trust element along with ‘knowing’ the people you work with), having an environment of active debate and healthy conflict is necessary and beneficial to deliver results.

In the workplace, healthy debate and open discussions play a crucial role in driving innovation, decision-making, team effectiveness and delivering of outcomes. However, it's important to approach these discussions with respect, self awareness and social awareness, and a focus on ideas, situations and issues rather than individuals. In this blog post, we will explore the power of asking better questions and providing better responses that encourage a positive and constructive debate environment and better collaboration and results!

?

Asking Effective Questions:

To promote healthy debate, it's essential to ask questions that stimulate critical thinking and encourage diverse perspectives and explore more than the surface thought. Whilst for the most part open ended questions (think questions starting with “when, when, how, where, why”) are best, some closed questions can be used effectively. Here are some effective questions that can guide discussions:

?

Problem Assessment and Decision-Making Process:

·???????What are we trying to achieve?

·???????What assumptions are we making that we should question?

·???????What is the biggest opportunity that we’re missing out on?

·???????What are we not talking about …?

·???????What are we avoiding?

·???????What are the risks?

·???????What's causing the problem we're trying to solve?

·???????Can we gather more information or do more research to support or challenge our assumptions?

?

Improvement and Continuous Improvement:

·????????What could be different?

·????????What could be better?

·????????What can we learn from previous similar situations?

·????????What are the fundamental of our business?

·????????What are the roadblocks?

Solution Evaluation and Analysis:

·???????What could go wrong if we choose this solution?

·???????What might be the unintentional consequences of our actions / inactions?

·???????What if …?

·???????How might our current approach hinder our long-term goals?

·???????What is inhibiting our success?

·???????What different perspectives should we consider?

·???????What other ways can we use to approach this problem before making a final decision?

?

Team Dynamics and Collaboration:

·???????How can we use each team member's strengths to improve our approach?

·???????How can we make sure everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and feel heard?

·???????What blind spots are in play?

·???????What biases are we consciously or unconsciously considering in this situation?

?

Ethical and External Considerations:

·???????How does this idea align with our team's values and mission?

·???????What ethical concerns should we think about?

·???????How does this idea follow industry best practices?

Another great way of encouraging debate is to consider the “voice” of another person, such as “As stakeholder [x], what if …”

Providing Better Responses:

To ensure that discussions remain respectful and productive, it's important to frame the interchange or debate, and respond in a manner that promotes a positive interaction. Here are some recommendations for better responses:

Establish a safe and respectful environment – frame the discussion:

·???????Let's create a space where we can share ideas openly and respectfully.

·???????Let’s thinking creatively and use debate to explore …

·???????Remember, we're discussing ideas, not attacking individuals.

?

Use inclusive language:

·???????We should say "we" and "our" to show that we're working as a team.

·???????Alternatively use “I” statements vs “you” statements to help the listener to hear the questions and engage, rather than be defensive and respond.

·???????It's important to make everyone feel included and valued; and not disrespected and excluded.

Focus on the ideas, not individuals:

·???????Let's talk about the pros and cons of the ideas, not who suggested them.

·???????We can improve the ideas together without making it personal.

?

Encourage active listening and empathy:

·???????Let's listen carefully to each other and try to understand different viewpoints. Consider the elements of active listening.

·???????We should consider how others feel and show kindness even if we disagree.

?

Provide constructive feedback:

·???????We can share suggestions for making ideas even better in a helpful way.

·???????Let's focus on how we can improve the ideas, not just point out flaws.

?

Conclusion:

Promoting healthy debate and effective collaboration is essential for successful teamwork and delivering results. By asking effective questions that encourage critical thinking and providing better responses that prioritize ideas over individuals, we create an environment that fosters innovation, colloboration, and growth. Let's remember to be respectful, listen to each other, and work together to make our workplaces the best it can be.