Collaborative problem-solving brings people together to analyze an issue, understand different perspectives, and agree on a workable resolution. It is especially useful when a team must manage expectations, resolve conflict, or establish better ways of working. section 11.4.3 section 9.2
Reducing meeting fatigue
After excessive meetings burdened an engineering team, the team used a sprint retrospective to examine the problem together. They created a meeting bill of rights requiring clear agendas and expected outcomes in every invitation, with the organizer responsible for applying it. The shared solution helped the team regain control of its time. section 11.4.3
A practical collaborative problem-solving process includes:
- Establish clear goals and assumptions, then agree on a viable path toward the shared objective. section 11.4.3
- Invite differing perspectives, identify common ground, and discuss what works and what does not. section 9.2
- Let the team decide its working methods, and iterate when the first approach does not fit. section 9.2
The Forming-Storming-Norming-Performing model for team development
Use the Forming-Storming-Norming-Performing model to understand how teams build trust, negotiate working relationships, and move toward a shared mission. section 9.2
