Boost Your Team Dynamics by Understanding the Phases of Problem-Solving
Unlocking your team's energy in the 5 phases of problem-solving
Imagine this: You're in a meeting discussing a strategy for an upcoming product launch. As the presenter invites comments and questions...
Person 1: “I love this idea! I’ve got a few more ideas we can add to it as well to make it even better!”
Person 2 raises their hand: “Who does this strategy impact? Have you considered its effect on my team’s workflow?"
Person 3 chimes in: “While I understand the strategy in theory, I see immediate issues and lack supporting data."
Person 4: "Okay, that’s the strategy…So what's next? When do we start working?"
Reflecting on these responses, which one resonates with you the most? It's not about one being better than the others; they simply each offer a diverse perspective and have a place in problem solving.
Exploring the 5 Dynamics® of problem-solving
When it comes to problem-solving, Simpli5, a top team management software organization, identifies five essential phases known as the 5 Dynamics®.
Explore (the brainstorm phase): Embark on understanding the complete situation, see relationships, and craft creative solutions.
Excite (the buy-in phase): Engage others, foster team support, and build a team.
Examine (the analysis phase): Create a data-driven implementation plan, anticipate challenges, and refine strategies.
Execute (the doing phase): Design timelines, ensure accountability, measure performance, and strive for completion.
Evaluate (the reflection phase): Reflect on outcomes, measure success, and adapt for future improvements.
Each individual brings a unique energy level to each of these dynamics, influencing their preferred approach to tasks. This preferred approach doesn’t correlate with how well you perform in each phase, but rather the energy and perspective we bring to the overall project.
Real-life insights: Understanding team dynamics for better alignment
I've been working with my boss for a little over a year now. While we got along well enough, our communication often felt like we were on different planets. There wasn't anything obviously wrong, but I couldn't quite figure out how to better align our perspectives.
Then, we both participated in a team-building workshop where we took the Simpli5, 5 Dynamics® assessment. This tool measures our natural energy levels for the first four stages of problem-solving. Sitting next to my boss, we received our results, and suddenly everything became clear.
In problem solving, - I found my energy was highest in the Excite and Execute phases, whereas my boss excelled in Explore and Examine. Whenever I proposed a new project, I'd approach him in the Excite phase, seeking his buy-in to swiftly move to Execute. However, he preferred spending more time in the brainstorming phase (Explore) or raising questions and roadblocks (Examine). It wasn't that he disliked my ideas; our natural energy levels simply gravitated toward different phases.
Surprisingly, what initially felt misaligned actually made us a great team. We complemented each other perfectly in bringing ideas from conception to completion. Once I adjusted my expectations of how he viewed my ideas and the value he added to them, our relationship became even stronger and more aligned.
Navigating energy in the 5 Dynamics®
Understanding which dynamics you naturally gravitate towards can not only improve teamwork but also enhance your own problem-solving strategies.
Recently, during a coaching conversation, a client approached me seeking advice on how to inspire action. Delving into their energy dynamics across the 5 Dynamics®, we identified a tendency to rush into execution, overlooking the critical explore, excite, and examine stages essential for effective problem-solving with their team. This realization led them to understand that it wasn’t that their team needed to be inspired into action - it was that they were moving too quickly to this phase. Additionally, they reflected on their team members' higher energy levels in some of the other phases, which explained why they didn't transition to problem-solving as swiftly.
As you can see in the graphic below, each of the 5 Dynamics® also has its own unique set of energy increase or energy decreasing activities. These characteristics shape how we approach problem-solving tasks and interact within teams.
Coaching Challenge
Reflect on the 5 Dynamics®: Which one(s) do you naturally gravitate towards? Reflect on activities that increase your energy and decrease your energy when problem solving.
Consider your boss, direct reports, and teammates: Which dynamics do you think they gravitate towards most easily? How does this impact your collaboration?
Share your dynamics in the comment section below!