Date:
12/17/2015
Title:
QUESTIONS LEADERS CAN ASK – Part 2
By Bryan Arzani
The second stage of asking questions goes a little deeper. These are questions that begin to get closer to the root cause. These are questions that put more responsibility on us, as leaders. These take time and can be a little personal. But, time is needed to ensure our employees are developed well and are productive. This is not a time for leading through expediency. Ask yourself if you have:
- asked people whether or not they feel prepared?
- asked people what more I could do to prepare them?
- asked them how they feel about the work?
- asked them if they feel valued?
- asked them what is happening that slows down achievement of goals?
- asked them what is working right, and if this can be duplicated?
- asked them if they feel this project is in their area of strength?
After asking yourself these questions and being honest with yourself about the answers, you may want to complete observations. Do you really know how the team is functioning? Sit in on one of their work meetings to find out. How are group dynamics affecting the completion of the work? Sit in on one of their work meetings to find out.
Observations will give you more questions to ask your employees. These questions should begin with “what” or “how”. Try to stop asking questions beginning with “why”. Most of us, when we hear a question beginning with “why”, become defensive. Then, all communication is lost.
“How did you handle it when Bob came to the meeting unprepared, and you couldn’t move forward with the project?” “What do you think caused the mis-communication when Sangeetha said she missed the meeting, because she thought it was tomorrow?”
All of these types of questions will help you get to the root cause of difficulties with goal achievement. They will also help you learn more about your employees, and how they handle situations that don’t go as planned. And, isn’t this really most of our situations!!??
To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.