SamTastic Weekly Tip: 10/7/19 - Ask Better Questions
This week’s tip: Ask Better Questions
Asking better questions will make you a far better leader. In other words: “If you want dramatically better answers the key is to ask a better question. -Hal Gregerson, Wall Street Journal
Gregerson suggests:
1. Understand what kinds of questions spark creativity. A leader who wants to unleash the creativity in others reframes the problem and invites exploration and new ideas. “What are you wrestling with and how can I help?”
2. Make yourself generate new questions. Instead of commenting on something you observe, ask a question. Be intensely curious.
3. Respond with the power of the pause. Wait, think and ask what the other person thinks. Respond with a question, rather than a statement. When a person asks you what they think they almost always have their own idea. Ask what it is before sharing your own. This builds trust and show interest. It demonstrates that you value what others think.
4. Brainstorm questions. When you are stuck ask your team to brainstorm ideas and questions. This simple strategy often results in great ideas and even better questions.
5. Reward your Questioners. Your job isn’t to have the answer—it is to build the capacity of the people with whom you work. Make clear you value the questions people raise— especially when they don’t match your own thinking. Your response to different ideas will show your team what you value. Do you really value collaborative work? Then you must be willing to accept new ideas and show curiosity—never dismissal.
Instead of saying what you think, ask, instead:
What do you think?
What worked?
What didn’t work?
What would you like to modify next time?
Who else would you like to talk with about other things to try?
What else have you tried?
What would you like to try next?
This week’s short dashboard video is on the bottom middle chart, Instructional descriptors. Take a look at this short video to see how to use this part of the dashboard to generate great questions: http://bit.lv/30QJuG5
I really enjoyed this reminder about asking better questions. Sometimes, the way we frame a question can completely change a conversation and help us understand something more clearly. As a PhD student, I have learned that curiosity is essential for research and personal growth. I also work part-time at the affordable assignment, and my academic struggles during college inspired me to help others. That experience taught me the value of patient guidance, especially when students need Java assignment writing help to overcome difficult concepts.
The power of the pause really resonated with me. I've started responding with questions instead of statements, and it changes everything. I even found tavern ai to practice.
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The “power of the pause” really stuck with me—I’ve been trying to respond with a question instead of jumping to solutions, and it changes the whole conversation. Also love the reframe of “What are you wrestling with and how can I help?” as a creativity spark. By the way, I keep a free in-stock availability finder I like to share: it’s been handy for tracking down supplies when stores seem empty. https://stock-finder.net/