The 9 Why’s method: an in-depth approach to understanding team issues

Have you ever felt the need to really understand why you do what you do at work? That’s what the Liberating Structures 9 Why’s method is for. By asking the question ‘Why?’ nine times, you’ll discover what really motivates you. Here we’re going to explain this method, its aims, its benefits, and how to use it with Glowbl. Let’s get started!

The aim of the method

The aim of the 9 Why’s is simple: to analyse a personal issue linked to a team challenge. By asking the question ‘Why? nine times, you’re going to dig deep to discover everyone’s underlying reasons and motivations. It’s like team introspection, helping to clarify each member’s impact on the collective challenge.

The benefits

For the team leader :

• Clarification of objectives: By understanding what motivates each team member, the facilitator can align individual and collective objectives.
• Improved efficiency: An aligned and motivated team works better together.

For the participant :

• Focus on the essentials: By understanding your own motivations, you can concentrate on what really matters.
• Personal development: This method encourages deep personal reflection, which is beneficial for your personal and professional growth.

The principle of the method

The principle is simple: explore a personal issue by asking the question ‘Why? nine times. Participants form pairs, ask each other questions and then share their findings with the group. This approach helps to clarify the collective objectives.

How does it work?

1. Introduction to the activity: The facilitator explains the aim of the activity and how it will be carried out, presenting the challenge to be examined.
2. Personal reflection: Each participant reflects on their own issues related to the challenge and chooses the one that seems most important to them.
3. Interview in pairs: Participants get into pairs and ask each other about their challenge by asking the question ‘Why? up to nine times, for about 5 minutes.
4. Feedback: Each participant shares the notes taken during the interview with their partner.
5. Summary: Everyone takes a moment to reflect and clarify their personal issues.
6. Pooling: Participants share their findings with the group to clarify the common objective in relation to the challenge.

Read also: Precautions activity 

Glowbl: The ideal platform for the 9 Why’s method

Glowbl is THE platform for implementing 9 Why’s. Here’s why:

Immersive virtual spaces

Glowbl offers virtual spaces where teams can meet in the same way as in a classroom. These immersive environments facilitate interactions and exchanges in pairs, which are essential for this method.

Dynamic sub-group rooms

The easy creation of sub-group rooms allows participants to divide into pairs for interviews. After each session, they can return to the main room to share their findings.

Effective communication tools

Glowbl features chat, screen sharing and an interactive whiteboard, perfect for taking notes and sharing interview results.

Case study

Let’s imagine a marketing team that needs to improve customer loyalty. The facilitator begins by presenting this challenge to the team via Glowbl.

• Presentation of the activity: The facilitator explains that each member has to identify a personal issue linked to customer loyalty.
• Personal reflection: Marie notes that her main challenge is to better understand her customers’ needs in order to create more effective campaigns.
• Interview in pairs: Mary forms a pair with Paul. Paul asks her the question ‘Why?
• Debriefing: Paul shares his notes with Mary, which helps him to clarify his motivations even more.
• Summary: Mary takes a moment to reflect on what she has learned about her motivations.
• Pooling: During the group session, Marie shares that her challenge is to create a strong emotional bond with customers in order to build loyalty. This discovery helps the team to focus their efforts on emotional marketing strategies.

Conclusion

The 9 Why’s method is a brilliant way of discovering what deeply motivates each member of a team when faced with a collective challenge. It encourages personal reflection and open communication, making it possible to clarify individual and collective objectives for maximum effectiveness. Glowbl, with its online collaboration features, is the ideal platform for implementing this method. By integrating the 9 Why’s into your team processes via Glowbl, you’ll be better equipped to overcome your next professional challenges.