Are you asking the right questions?
As a leader and supervisor for a lot of years, I’ve gotten used to asking questions.
- When will this project be completed?
- Have you considered the implications of such and such… ?
- How will this benefit our ultimate goal?
- What did you DO this week?
- And of course — "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"
I ask these questions because I am trying to guide or supervise. I’m trying to get someone else to think.
I ask the leading questions.
But in the last few weeks I’ve started asking an entirely different type of question.
- How do I do that again?
- Could you show me one more time?
- Is this dial the ADF?
- What am I doing wrong?
- Did I do okay?
Now I’m asking the learning questions.
I don’t know when it happened but somewhere in the last few years of life, I forgot how to ask learning questions and honestly it’s kinda got me freaked out.
Hey don’t misread what I’m saying. I’m a learner… I mean I like to read and discover new facts. I’m reading "Two Weeks to a Breakthrough" right now. It’s just that maybe I know how to uncover facts but have forgotten how to really learn.
I’m learning to fly. It’s scaring me! Not the flying part… I love that. It’s the learning thing. I’m used to being in charge. Being the expert in fact. (or maybe just a know-it-all). I probably should have considered a few things before I started. Now I’m sitting in a plane with an instructor that is less than half my age. I’m having to ask, "could you show me that again?" uhh… what am I supposed to do now? Then when I really mess up the instructor takes the controls.
It’s scary! It’s embarrassing! It’s exciting!
I’m learning again and the questions are all different.
How about you? Are you asking learning questions or leading questions? Let’s talk!
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You have reminded me of what Brian Tracy said. He said the less efficient sales consultants would keep rambling on products’ features and benefit. The efficient ones would stop to ask intelligent questions to guide and influence the prospect’sviews and emotions from “I don’t need” to “I probably need that” and finally “Yes, I can do with all these”. Ask the right questions, we’ll get the right answers to solves lot of problems (my, yours and theirs).
Posted by Vivienne Quek on May 18th, 2007.
Vivienne,
Questions are so important in our lives. And learning to ask the right questions is a real challenge. You are so right!
Posted by DaveOlson on May 18th, 2007.
[...] Your potential is only as powerful as your questions [...]
Posted by SOB Business Cafe 06-22-07 - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. on June 22nd, 2007.