In the Holdsworth leadership programs we use learning protocols for many reasons, including to deepen conversations, structure time and promote reflection. We’ve gathered some of our favorite protocols and how you can use them to strengthen your teams.
According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education article The Right Way to Lead Teacher Learning, “A good protocol provides structure and routine, so when a group is having a meeting or solving a problem, it can take some of the mystery away about what’s supposed to happen and allows facilitator and participants to relax because they know they’ll arrive at a goal.”
The right protocol can help create better habits of mind and scaffold desired team behaviors. Some teams can be solutions-focused and may not take the time to identify the problem and different approaches to solving it.
A protocol like the one used in a consultancy can help slow down the rush to solutions to help people more deeply understand the underlying issue. This also empowers the owner of the problem to find a solution that may have been under the surface all along.
Protocols can also be helpful tools to soften unhelpful group dynamics around airtime or lessen hierarchy. Giving equal opportunity for each member to respond and encouragement to disagree often leads to insightful conversations and well-informed solutions.
If you find yourself or your team in need of better ways to sort through challenges, provide feedback on ideas or making sense of new learning – feel free to try some of these recommended protocols.
View Selected Protocols for Leadership Teams
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