100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS • 165One of the simplest, shortest, and most effective business
ideas is to encourage people to establish support and challenge
groups. Practiced by many organizations worldwide, these are an
indispensable way to build teamwork, productivity, and effectiveness
at work.
The idea
A support and challenge group consists of four or fi ve colleagues of
a similar level or status, who meet, informally, at regular intervals
(perhaps once a month or once a week). Each individual takes a turn
for ten minutes or so explaining a challenge or issue that they face.
The others listen and then ask questions, helping their colleague
understand the key issues and where the solution might lie. This
should be done without prescribing a solution; the key is to support
the individual and challenge their thinking and assumptions.
The British retail pharmacist chain Boots is among many that
have used the technique successfully. Support and challenge
groups work for several reasons:
- Speaking about an issue or challenge can help provide
perspective and clarify the issues, even without the comments
of colleagues. - The views of others can provide a different approach to a
challenge—or simply provide encouragement and strength.
Either way, the involvement of others is helpful.