Tool 32: Circles of Influence

AKA

N/A

Classification

Team Building (TB)

Tool description

The circles of influence tool allows a team to verify the extent of its self-management, decision-making authority, and problem-solving capability. Circles are used to display forces or problems that are within the team's influence or that are outside the team's influence.

Typical application

• To evaluate problems and forces influencing a team's performance.

• To identify a team's areas of responsibility and influence

• To verify team management and authority.

• To empower a team by increasing its influence and defining accountability.

Problem-solving phase

	Select and define problem or opportunity
→	Identify and analyze causes or potential change
→	Develop and plan possible solutions or change
	Implement and evaluate solution or change
→	Measure and report solution or change results
	Recognize and reward team efforts

Typically used by

	Research/statistics
2	Creativity/innovation
	Engineering
	Project management
	Manufacturing
	Marketing/sales
4	Administration/documentation
	Servicing/support
3	Customer/quality metrics
1	Change management

links to other tools

before

• Brainstorming

• Consensus Decision Making

• Team Process Assessment

• Buzz Group

• Team Mirror

after

• Relationship Map

• Sociogram

• Delphi Method

• Critical Dialogue

• Multivoting

Notes and key points

• Each participant takes no more than 10 minutes to list problems for consideration.

• Use coding such as A-1, B-1, C-1, etc., to designate problems placed into circles of influence A-B-C.

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 The team's facilitator draws three circles of influence on a flip chart and explains the purpose and application of this tool. A team discussion follows.

• STEP 2 The facilitator starts the team by providing an example problem for each circle of influence. Further clarification takes place to ensure that each participant understands the process.

• STEP 3 Participants are asked to develop a list of existing and perceived problems that affect the team's present performance.

• STEP 4 Once participants have completed their lists, the facilitator collects these lists for encoding and charting problems. See example A Team's Problem Solving Ability.

• STEP 5 All listed problems are discussed and consensus is reached on where problems should be charted: circle A, B, or C. The first problem determined to be in circle A should be encoded as A-1.

• STEP 6 All charted problems are recorded on flip charts titled Circle A, Circle B, and Circle C, as shown in the example. A discussion follows on the team's ability to control or influence problems.

• STEP 7 Finally, the team explores ways to increase the team's influence, expand on its area of responsibility, and therefore, improve team performance.

Example of tool application