Pre-Mortems and Pre-Wins!

They are two simple approaches that offer ways to counteract irrational exuberance and despair in an activity, particularly effective towards the end of conversations and meetings.

⬇️ Pre-Mortems: Why might something fail?

It's easy to get overly excited by an idea. While it's great to see this in others, we want to help to 'strengthen' the solution by 'testing' it. This is not to get someone 'back to reality', but to help them prethink likely obstacles.

- "What obstacles might get in your way?"

- "What might be three reasons this could fail?"

- "What do you know you need to watch out for to make what you want happen?"

⬆️ Pre-Wins: What does it matter to succeed?

On the opposite end, it's also common to just 'file' an idea, get ready to the next thing. In this case, internal resolve and commitment could use a boost. We can ask some questions to help others remember why it's worth doing it.

- "What would happen to you if you were successful in this?"

- "What are three benefits of success in this for you/your team/organization?"

- "What would you *not* get if you don't succeed?"

Summary

Give these two approaches a try! In my experience, they are not only valuable in coaching sessions but also in most one-on-one conversations, team meetings, or even strategy workshops. They offer a great way to react to the level of excitement right in front of you.

PRO Tip: Make sure to plan time for this. Incorporating Pre-Mortem and Pre-Win discussions into your agenda ensures they are given due consideration, rather than being an afterthought.