Want the truth? Ask a better question.
EXPERT OPINION BY ANDREA WOJNICKI, EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION COACH AT TALK ABOUT TALK
You walk your team through a new plan and ask what they think. Everyone nods and agrees that it looks good. You leave that meeting with nothing you can act on.
My sister ran into a version of this at her own dinner table. She made dinner one night and was disappointed with how it tasted. She asked her husband, “What do you think?” He told her it was great, even though she knew the meal was bad.
So, she asked a different question. “Should I make it again next week?” Then the truth came out: “Maybe not.”
It’s been said that great leaders ask great
It’s been said that great leaders ask great questions. It’s a cliché. The classic advice is to ask open-ended questions rather than yes-or-no ones.
Refreshed leadership advice from CEO Stephanie Mehta
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
If you have kids, you already know how it goes. “Did you have a good day at school?” gets you a yes and a kid who’s already left the kitchen. Ask how the day was and what happened, and the answer gets much more valuable.
So how does this translate to questions at work? Here are three ways I coach leaders to ask better questions.
1. Ask the question you want answered.
“What do you think?” is a fluffy question. Asking what your team thinks gets you a review, when perhaps what you need is a decision.
Source: www.inc.com
