The dictionary defines “agency” as the capacity of an individual or a group to act independently, make choices, and have a significant influence on their actions and decisions.
How do we coach others if we act on what they tell us they want? Are we giving away our agency? Maybe that is what we really want, because if it doesn’t work, then it’s not our fault.
I’ve turned to design thinking for the answer. Design thinking is a process for solving user problems, using an iterative approach to create innovative solutions. A way of shifting from the intentional thinking of the designer to the intentional action of the user.
No one designs a chair by committee, or worse still by listening to what everyone thinks. Instead, designers watch how people interact with their designs; they watch what people do.