diverge · Problem Solving · 15–30 min · 2-40 people · medium energy

Define Your Challenges

This exercise helps teams quickly identify and prioritize their most pressing challenges through a process of elimination, encouraging intuitive decision-making over lengthy analysis. By visually clustering and discussing remaining challenges, teams can align on key priorities for further action.

When to use Define Your Challenges

Use this method when you need to quickly surface and prioritize key challenges within a team or organization, especially when facing time constraints or a need to avoid overthinking.

What it solves

Analysis paralysis, Difficulty prioritizing issues, Lack of alignment on key challenges

How to run Define Your Challenges, step by step

  1. Individual Challenge Generation (5 min): Ask each participant to write down their top 10 challenges, one per sticky note.
  2. Elimination Rounds (10-15 min): In timed rounds (10-30 seconds each), have participants discard their least important sticky note. Repeat until only 1-2 remain.
  3. Challenge Sharing & Clustering (5-10 min): Invite participants to share their remaining sticky notes, placing them on a wall or virtual whiteboard and clustering similar challenges together.
  4. Reflective Discussion (5 min): Facilitate a discussion to identify common themes and align on the most pressing challenge(s).

Materials needed

  • Sticky notes
  • Pens
  • Timer
  • Whiteboard or Miro board

Facilitator tips

  • Emphasize the time pressure to encourage intuitive decision-making.
  • Encourage participants to speak out loud as they cluster their challenges to foster understanding.

Common pitfalls

  • Participants may struggle to discard challenges, leading to analysis paralysis. Enforce the time limits strictly.
  • Some participants may dominate the clustering discussion. Ensure everyone has a chance to contribute.

Variations

  • Instead of discarding, participants could rank their challenges and then average the rankings to identify top priorities.
  • After clustering, use dot voting to further prioritize the challenges.

Running it online or hybrid

Use a digital whiteboard tool like Miro or Mural to simulate sticky notes and a designated 'bin' area for discarded challenges.

What it produces

A prioritized list of the top 1-2 challenges facing the team, visually clustered to show common themes.

Origin

Adapted from Mischief Makers — source

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