Strengths Exercise – Team Problem Solving
This team problem-solving exercise, with strengths focus, will help individuals intentionally apply their strengths to everyday problems and identify deliberate steps to accomplish them.
Prior to the team meeting, identify three problems to solve. Once the problems are identified, share them with the team along with the top strengths for each team member.
PROBLEM #1
PROBLEM #2
PROBLEM #3
GROUP EXERCISE STEPS
FOR EACH PROBLEM, WORK THROUGH THESE STEPS
Brainstorm: Begin working through the problem by identifying possible solutions.
Incorporate Strengths: Once potential solutions are identified, review the strengths of each team member. Determine how each strength can help resolve the problem, accelerate progress, and proactively anticipate future challenges and resolutions.
Finalize: Next, you’ll want to develop the final draft of the problem solution.
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS
Now that you have worked through your final draft, it’s time to finalize each problem solution below. Write clear, actionable steps that have strengths of team members identified and how team members will help resolve the problem, accelerate progress, and proactively anticipate future challenges and resolutions.
PROBLEM #1
PROBLEM #2
PROBLEM #3
For more information about this material, email kmcclain@praeliscere.com or visit https://praeliscere.com/. Copyright Kathryn McClain.
The Team Problem Solving exercise guides participants in identifying three problems prior to the group discussion. During the group discussion, the team will work through each problem by leveraging individual strengths for potential solutions.
Facilitator Notes
- Personalization: As the facilitator, you are encouraged to adjust the exercise to meet the needs of all team members.
- Pre-Communication: Share agenda or exercise document at least 48 hours prior to exercise/training. This will allow time for individuals to review and ask clarifying questions prior to the meeting. Make sure to include session length of time and expectations in prior communication (e.g., if virtual, cameras/microphones expectations).
- Directed Examples: Provide relevant examples when going through sections.
- Psychological Safety: No calling on individual participants to put them on the spot.
Keep in mind when delivering your exercise/training those that are neurodivergent, non-native English speakers/ESL, introverts, internal processors, and those that may be burned out/cognitive overload.
Discover Praeliscere’s Strengths Hub. Select the title to go directly to the resource.
Ongoing Application and Reinforcement
After a training, exercise, or assessment is completed, ongoing application and reinforcement become the focus. Learning is sustained through follow-up trainings, exercises, and/or micro-learning opportunities, as well as by integrating the topic into goals, performance conversations, recognition efforts, and peer learning groups.
As individuals build knowledge, experience, and confidence, they are empowered to lead, share insights, and support others in applying the learning as well. This approach reflects the meaning of Praeliscere with Learn, Apply, Lead.
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