Make basic communication agreements that help create a safe and structured process.
If you like, you can begin with a short warm-up using metaphor cards. Each person picks one card that symbolizes what resource they bring to the team today or what they hope will be the best outcome of the session. Plan extra time for about 1 minute per person.
The facilitator keeps track of time and ensures the group follows the agreements, introduces each step, and moderates the conversation.
Mutual agreements may include sticking to the schedule, showing respect and appreciation, and adding anything else that helps the group feel safe and focused.
Decide how the facilitator will manage and signal the timing.
What goal will you focus on?
Decide which team goal you will focus on.
2 min
When do you want this goal to be achieved?
Write the goal and the target date in the chat.
Main Process – Moving Toward the Goal 45 min
Team members ask and answer coaching questions
Clicking on a card reveals a questions. There are three rounds, each lasting 6 minutes, and each round focuses on a specific theme.
6 min
6 min
6 min
Two ways to select questions:
Blind selection: The questions are hidden. The facilitator clicks on a card based on a number given by a participant. The question is revealed after selection.
Open selection: All questions are visible. Team members take turns choosing and answering them.
Team members take turns answering questions. The first member selects a question and answers it, then the next, and so on until the round ends.
Solutions
Part I
Brainstorming – The team explores the question:
“What could we do to move toward the goal?”
7 min
Part II
All team members contribute simultaneously using a shared virtual space (e.g., a Zoom whiteboard using digital sticky notes).
Part A – “I will…” Each person writes a sentence starting with “I will…”, describing what they personally commit to doing and when.
Part B – Team actions Everyone suggests shared action steps – things the team should do together. For each step, the team will later decide who will take responsibility and set deadlines.
Once everyone has finished writing, each person reads their input out loud to the group.
7 min
The facilitator encourages the sharing of different ideas and perspectives.
The key question is: “What else?”
The focus is on the quantity of ideas, not quality. Ideas are not to be judged or criticized.
The facilitator can use a virtual collaboration tool familiar to the team for gathering and organizing responses.
Action Plan
Turn the written ideas into a concrete action plan.
3 min
The facilitator groups similar actions and, together with the team, assigns deadlines and responsibilities.
Team’s Belief in Goal Achievement
The facilitator invites team members to express why they believe the goal will be achieved.
Prompt:
“I believe we will achieve this goal because…”
5 min
If preferred, participants may be asked to type their answers in the chat before sharing aloud.
Closing Circle
5 min
Each team member shares one thing they value about the process.
The facilitator may offer 1 minute of silent reflection before the round begins.