In a recent coaching conversation, a senior leader and I were outlining a framework for her to use with her managers to help them clarify and answer more of their own questions before coming to her for guidance. She suddenly laughed and said, “This reminds me of what my third grade teacher taught us: ‘3 Before Me’! She was right.
‘3 Before Me’ is a classroom management and teaching strategy designed to develop critical thinking, task ownership, independence, and collaboration with students. In practice, it’s intended to cause a student to take three steps before asking a teacher for help: 1) Think of the instructions given or of a similar situation to find guidance there. If they’re still stuck, then 2) Look at the instructions or resource materials or how others have handled similar situations in the past for guidance. If that doesn’t help, 3) ask a colleague or peer for their insights. If after completing these three steps, the student is still stuck, then ask the teacher for guidance.
‘3 Before Me’ enhances productivity for the teacher – as they’re not bombarded with questions – and it develops useful life skills for the students.
This 3-step process enhances productivity for the teacher – as they’re not bombarded with questions – and it develops useful life skills for the students. It’s not intended to isolate the teacher. It’s intended to reduce the students’ dependency on the teacher (or other people in authority) for providing answers and to develop their own critical thinking and problem solving skills, and as a result, their confidence.
It’s intended to … develop their own critical thinking and problem solving skills, and as a result, their confidence.
If we take ‘3 Before Me’ to the workworld, the idea is no different than what I’ve been encouraging leaders to do for years to stop the revolving door of team members coming to them for answers.
Here’s what ‘3 Before Me’ can look like at work:
- Introduce It – Let your team know you’re going to implement ‘3 Before Me’, why, and when (e.g., Starting immediately, I’d like us all to follow a ‘3 Before Me’ framework. This will help you develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills, leverage the SMEs on the team, increase your independence and confidence, and minimize disruptions in my day for things you can handle given your positions.)
- Explain It – Explain your three steps. Here’s a sample:
Before you come to me with a question…- Think – What specifically are you expected to do, deliver, or resolve? What is the problem or what is the desired deliverable? What proof do you have that this is the real problem or real deliverable being requested?
- Look – What resource documentation could provide guidance on how to do this? (e.g. Laws, policies, procedures, checklists, After Action Reviews/AARs, meeting minutes, etc.)
- Ask – Who else might have insight or be a Subject Matter Expert/SME and can help? Ask a colleague or support staff first, if appropriate. Then work up through your chain of command. If your question requires higher levels of leadership involvement, by working up through your chain of command and not taking leaps, everyone will be in-the-loop and the action can (theoretically) get addressed sooner rather than later. This also helps educate every level of leader up the chain on this type of challenge.
- Clarify It – Tell them how you plan to hold yourself and them accountable to it. For example, if this goes live immediately, and a team member comes to you tomorrow morning with a question, you simply ask: “What three have you done before me?” If they’ve not completed the three, off they go to do more independent digging. If they have and they’re still stuck, help them.
- Do It – Be consistent and pay attention to how you and your team adopt this. It’s not as easy as it sounds. If you’ve unintentionally trained your team to bring their problems to you, this transition to greater independence and critical thinking won’t come easy for them or you. You need to catch yourself first and not immediately answer questions that are within their position’s realm of responsibility to handle. Remember, sometimes the best thing you can do for them is to NOT give them the answer, but to instead help them find it themselves.
‘3 Before Me’ works. Take it to work. Share it with your team, then give it a try. You and they just might become more focused, collaborative, and productive in the process.
Copyright MMXXVI – Liz Weber, CMC, CSP – Weber Business Services, LLC – www.WBSLLC.com +1.717.597.8890 Liz Weber is an advisor to boards of directors, business owners, and C-Suite leaders. She’s a leadership, strategic and succession planning consultant, keynote speaker, and author. Learn more on LinkedIn.
