How-to run a “Lightning Decision Jam” (LDJ)
LDJs give clarity where there’s a lack of it. This is a 4-part model of activity, when blended creates the secret sauce for teams to be more creative, productive and happier.
The result of running the LDJ structured process will create a collaborative environment where it's easier to share ideas, make confident and aligne decisions to solve problems. It surfaces what needs to be done to deliver the most value to the business and its customers. And if that’s not enough, it also gets all stakeholders ‘pulling in the same direction’ for that same purpose. Now isn’t that a rare thing of beauty? This is how to do it…
This blog assumes you have either read my previous blogs or know what a sailboat retro is, what How Might We (HMW) questions are, get people to write ideas out on HMWs, how to use an impact/effort 2x2 matrix and you can rock time-boxed activity.
People and tools:
Minimum 3 people to a maximum of 8, which allows for lightening-fast collaboration and focus. Allow 30 to 90 minutes, depending on group size. This can be run remotely using online whiteboards (I like Miro) or in person, for this you’ll need:
fat felt pens (keeping notes brief and easy to read)
small and oblong sticky notes in various colours
Dot stickers for voting
Big flat area such as a smooth wall, whiteboard, whiteboard magic paper or a window
A timer
Playlist of music (I like the genre ‘Lo-Fi) for focus work
Images of a sailboat and an impact/effort 2x2 matrix
Intro: Outline the focus of this collaboration session: it could be to address dwinderling user-engagement with your brand online; an increase in complaints or a project that’s gone off track. This will define the scope and the focus.
Module 1)
Run the retro - for example, gather feedback on a specific subject and activity that happened between a particular range of time; the past 2 weeks of marketing for example.
Explicitly write the session’s goal on the top of the sailboat image: “What’s moving us towards [insert goal here]?” The idea is to get participants working alone together, and this means when they are writing out their sticky notes it’s done without talking. It would be silent aside from the cool tunes you’re playing.
Collect positive notes (in one colour)
5 mins: Participants write out on sticky notes as many things which have gone well, over a period of time you have defined, for example the past 2 weeks. This activity gives a positive start to the session.
1 to 2 mins for each participant to stick up in the sky area of the sailboat image their notes and briefly say what each one means. NB: These notes are not used again now they’ve served as a great warm-up and set a positive tone.
Collect challenges on notes (in a different colour)
4 mins: Participants write, clearly and succinctly, so that they don’t need any further explanation, as many things that haven’t gone so well - 1 note per item.
1 min: Participants put these up under the waterline, but don’t introduce them, unless something is not clear to someone, but don’t let that get into a discussion.
As the facilitator read all the problem statement notes without elaborating on any of them
Choose
3 mins: With 3 voting dots each participant uses their votes on the problem statement notes under the waterline, they feel are a priority to work on.
After voting, as the facilitator, reposition the notes so the most voted on are at the top and allow space for rectangular sticky notes to be positioned beneath. NB: notes with zero or only 1 or 2 votes can be left out of the following process.
Module 2)
Create HMWs
3 mins: Start with the most voted problem statement note. Participants write on notes in a new colour, their HMW question that reframes the challenge. (See my HMW blog, TikTok or Insta, if you need more info on this).
3 mins: repeat on the next most voted on note and continue until you have a maximum of 4 to 5 challenges, so the session stays focused.
Create - ideate on potential solutions to HMWs
5 mins: each participant writes as many potential solutions to the HMW notes as possible, without discussion so that there’s a broad range of individual viewpoints. 1 note per item again.
NB: there isn’t any format on how to write the solutions, they just need to be understood just from reading them, as they will not be presented.
1 min: everyone sticks up their noted ideas onto a whiteboard or clear space.
Choose ideas
4 mins: each participant has 6 voting dots to indicate the best solution to solve the HMWs.
As the facilitator, reorder the stick notes with the most voted at the top and cascade down. This should result in a pyramid shape on the wall of sticky notes.
Module 3)
Commit
10 mins: as a facilitator, starting with the most voted on, take each solution and hold in the centre of the 2x2 matrix and ask the group 2 questions: first how much impact could this solution have - high or low? Then going on to ask how much effort it would take. From the group’s consensus the position will be determined. Repeat for each of the top voted ideas.
NB: its important to get evidence and confidence levels when participants are giving their option on the placement of a note.
Mark each note in the ‘low-hanging fruit’ (top left) quadrant with a big different coloured dot, so they can be easily identified later.
Other ideas in the top right can go on a backlog
Module 4)
Commit - create actions
5 mins: For each of the top voted solution ideas in the low-hanging fruit quadrant of the 2x2 matrix, as the facilitator, ask the group to generate 3 actions on each note, that ideally will generate feedback to validate whether the idea could work or not, in a brief (2 to 3 week) timeframe.
Place the action steps next to each idea
Capture images or digitise the activity and output of the LDJ session.
Now you have the actions, before the session is over, invite individuals to own each of the actions.
Running this session fits in with a culture of continuous improvement and learning, and if you don’t have the culture, this is a chance for you to influence that and action is better than over-thinking and over-talking about doing something. Not all experiements work, that’s why they’re called experiments, but it gets everyone collaborating, and moving in the right direction and learning what does and doesn’t work along the way. This method is used in top performing firms such as the “FANGs” (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google) to name a few.
If you need more guidance, get in contact.
If you’ve enjoyed this LDJ blog, feel free to subscribe and follow me on Insta & TikTok