Few people like to be told what to do or how they
should do it. Leaders often inadvertently discourage their staff by being
overly directive. While there are times when a hard or directive conversation
must take place it should be a rare thing if one has good staff. The question
is, how do we address issues without needing to be overly directive?
The answer is often a simple one. It is to engage them
in dialogue and ask questions rather than to make statements. In fact, it is in
the dialogue that questions engender that better solutions come about than even
we might think should happen. I work very hard to not give direction through
telling people what to do but to ask questions that help them come to
appropriate solutions. It is not only better received but generally is a more
honoring way to communicate.
Asking questions gives us an opportunity to think
about how we approach sensitive issues so that those we are interacting with
will hear us, lower their defenses and create an environment where we can get
at these sensitive issues that need to be addressed. Since every individual is
wired differently how we address these issues means that we need to think
carefully about our approach.
Asking good questions that cause people to reflect
also teaches those we are interacting with to do the same with their staff. Soon
you have a culture that is more life giving and people who think more deeply.
In fact, when we have to think about the right question to ask on a certain
issue we are engaging in much deeper thinking than if we do not.
The bottom line is that asking good questions is
almost always more helpful than simply making statements – although there are
times when we should address behaviors or decisions head on. Generally, though,
questions create dialogue and dialogue gives us an opportunity to come to good
solutions and to influence others.
Posted from Havana Cuba
All of T.J. Addington's books including his latest, Deep Influence, are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 per book discount on orders of ten or more.
Posted from Havana Cuba
All of T.J. Addington's books including his latest, Deep Influence, are available from the author for the lowest prices and a $2.00 per book discount on orders of ten or more.
1 comment:
thank you for the post. I have a question: how can I made good question? I mean. What center point do you look for, where you could begin to create a good question?
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