Wouldn’t it be good to know that every decision you take over the next 12 months will be the right one. This may sound impossible but there is a way to significantly increase the likelihood of your decisions being correct.
Trust, decisive leadership and openness will all significantly save time. Which one of these two asks the best questions?
The secret is understanding. Without understanding we are very likely to make bad or the wrong decisions, with greater understanding we should have, not just the facts but also the instinct to make the right choices.
The key to gaining understanding is to ask the right people the right questions, whether they be staff, colleagues, customers or even our bosses. Here are some four pointers towards asking the right questions:
Be kind – Good questioning shows interest and concern whereas questions asked badly can feel like interrogation. Facial expression and body language are as important as the words you use.
Keep your questions open – Start sentences with Who, What, Where, When, Why, How and So. Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
Repeat what you’ve heard – This demonstrates that you are really listening and allows the other person to clarify their point of view
Be curious – Don’t stop asking after you’ve heard one answer keep exploring until you fully understand and could explain the situation to someone else.
Some might argue that there is no time in the 21st century workplace for such protracted conversations, we’d argue that by honing our questioning skills we will be able to quickly cut to the heart of the matter and significantly build honest relationships based on trust. Trust, decisive leadership and openness will all significantly save time.
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For more resources, see our Library topic Team Building.
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This blog is by Fresh Tracks: Experts in Team Building, Team Development and Staff Conferences
Website: www.freshtracks.co.uk
Carter McNamara of Authenticity Consulting, LLC, provides organizational development, consultant training and Action Learning services, and is developer of the Free Management Library.
Great insights Tom. It really is dramatic how we can show our team members we value them by simply letting them tell us about what’s important to them. Leaders often overlook the simple act of listening to someone and gathering information to make better decisions. Listening and asking open-ended questions are vital team building tools as well because they help our employees feel like they matter.
– How will you identify the talents and uniqueness of each team member? How will you ensure these talents are used to the fullest?