May The Force Be With You!

Force field analysis is a great tool when you are working as a team to analyse and resolve an issue. For example, it may be difficult to find time to work together to share insights because you always get bogged down in project management issues. Or perhaps you are faced with a key internal team who keep giving you research briefs at the last minute, and don\'t give you time to plan and implement the jobs properly.

If so, try using force field analysis to work together as a team to brainstorm and agree a way forward:

Take a flip chart and write your challenge at the top. Just below this, on the right of the flipchart, summarise the ideal situation that you would like to achieve.

Then divide the page into sections by drawing a large ‘T’ across it. The stem of the ‘T’ splits the page down the middle. Now have a brainstorm about the ‘driving forces’ that could move you towards the ideal situation. List these on the left hand side. On the right hand side, list everything that is preventing you from reaching your goal. These are your restraining forces.

You now need to prioritise these forces. For example, give each a score of one to five to identify their relative impact on the challenge. To move forward, you need to reduce the force of those elements on the right-hand side, and increase the force of those on the left. So discuss how you could overcome or reduce the impact of some of your restraining forces. Then review how some of the driving forces can be enhanced to help you to achieve your goal. Reducing or removing some barriers can sometimes help you to get a breakthrough, rather than just pushing the positive factors.