Beach Ball Model
The issue is: __________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
A
I will invite to this conversation:
B
F
A _________________
C
B _________________
C _________________
D _________________
E _________________
F _________________
D
E
“Out beyond ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.” - Rumi
US Headquarters: 425.283.1294
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.fierceinc.com
© 2006 Fierce, Inc. For private use only. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, exhibition or commercial use or duplication of this copyrighted material or any part
thereof, without prior licensing, is forbidden by Federal law and is strictly prohibited.
Beach Ball Model
Preparation
Before your team conversations, be sure you complete the following checklist:
 Write a clear statement of the decision to be made, the strategy to be outlined, the
opportunity to be evaluated or the problem to be solved.
 Invite the people who will be affected and/or who have perspectives you need to hear
(including decision makers and outside professionals.) In the invitation, let everyone know
the issue, its significance and your desire to learn their perspectives.
 Send out any material that should be reviewed beforehand.
During the Team Conversation
1
Thank everyone for coming.
2
Give everyone a copy of the issue preparation form and talk through it to quickly focus
attention and resources on the topic. (The problem named is the problem solved.)
3
Tell your team members that you want to hear their perspectives, especially if they differ
from what you see or the direction you are leaning. Remember: This is true AND this is
true AND this is true.
4
Make sure that you hear from each team member. If someone says, “I don’t know,” ask,
“What would it be if you did know?” If someone says, “I have nothing to add,” ask, “What
would you add if you did have something to add?” If you are not sure what someone’s
comment means or the comment seems incomplete, ask them to, “Please say more about
that.”
5
When you have heard from everyone and the conversation has lost steam, ask each team
member to write down a concise answer to this question: “What would you do if you were
in my shoes?”
6
Have each person read his/her advice. Do not respond, except to say, “Thank you.”
7
After everyone has read their advice, tell them what you’ve heard and ask, “Did I miss
anything essential?”
8
Thank everyone for their contributions and tell them what action you are prepared to take
and when you will take it.
9
Ask them to sign their recommendations and give them to you so that you can follow up
with them if you’d like more information.
10 Get back to them once you have made a decision or taken action and let them know the
results and/or next steps.
US Headquarters: 425.283.1294
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.fierceinc.com
© 2006 Fierce, Inc. For private use only. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, exhibition or commercial use or duplication of this copyrighted material or any part
thereof, without prior licensing, is forbidden by Federal law and is strictly prohibited.