Guide Others to Find Solutions

Welcome to the course on 1-1 meeting best practices. Throughout this unit, you will learn essential skills to guide your engineering team in problem-solving, prioritizing tasks, and managing their time efficiently. This unit focuses on helping others find solutions independently, thereby fostering their growth and creating a collaborative environment.

To encourage deeper thinking and self-discovery in your team members, ask open-ended questions. This approach helps them explore various options and understand the problem from different angles.

• Jake: I'm really stuck on this part of the project. I don't know what to do next.
• Natalie: What approaches have you considered so far? Maybe we can figure out the best way forward together.

Instead of asking "Did you try solution X?", you might ask, "What approaches have you considered for this problem?". The key here is to help the employee think through their problem rather than providing an immediate solution.

When a member of the team feels stuck, offering logical methods to approach the problem is more effective than direct answers. This helps them develop problem-solving skills and resilience.

• Nova: I'm not sure which step to take first. Everything seems messy.
• Chris: Have you thought about starting with prioritizing the big tasks to see how it impacts the rest of the project?

For instance, instead of saying, "You should do this step first", consider guiding them to a method to find their own answer without removing their sense of ownership.

Falling into the trap of solving your team’s problems for them can hinder their development and overburden you. Encourage them to take ownership of their issues.

For example, if a member of your team tries to hand a problem back to you, respond with, "I believe you have the skills to figure this out. What do you think your first steps could be?".

By adopting these approaches, you empower your team, enhance their problem-solving capabilities, and ensure a more efficient workflow. In the upcoming role-play sessions, you will practice these skills to solidify your understanding and application.