Sharpen that question
"Without a good question, a good answer has no place to go." Clayton Christensen
Communication lies at the core of good leadership. Leaders inspire, influence, and care for their people. They do this largely through what they say, how they direct others, and the questions they ask. Often though, questions have smooth rounded tips which decrease their effectiveness. Let's use the common question "What do you think?" This is an open-ended question, meaning it allows the respondent to apply their own answer (versus a closed-ended yes or no) which is good, yet it may not achieve the effect a leader is looking for. Answers like "I thought it went well," or "I thought it was good" are broad and not useful. Let's sharpen them.
People have much to share but, even under good leadership, may be reluctant to offer criticism or say what is truly on their mind. Instead of "What do you think?", a sharpened question would be more specific. "Give me some feedback on the effectiveness of that briefing. Did you understand the concepts being presented and did it offer you enough instruction to begin the project?" or "I'd like to know what you thought about my demeanor with that client and if I was talking too fast." These 'sharpened' questions are still open-ended yet more direct and focused. They force more useful answers.
Know your people when sharpening your questions. Some may want to deliver an answer on the spot in front of a group. Some may want time to develop a response and answer in a more private way. Here are some approaches.
Dull: "Give me some feedback on our weekly sales meeting."
Sharpened: "I want feedback on the effectiveness of our weekly sales meeting. By Friday send your feedback to Sarah and she will make it autonomous and share it with me. I'm open to anything you want to share but, at a minimum, I need to know, 1. Am I allowing for enough discussion between members? 2. Does the meeting give you what you need to accomplish your tasks? and 3. Is the meeting placed on the right day of the week given our greater company operational rhythm?"
Dull: "Understand?" or "Got it?"
Sharpened: "Ray, play back to me what I just asked of you." I want to make sure I'm communicating clearly and that I have set you up for success."
How sharp are your questions? Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve and answer. Then take out that knife, whittle the question down to a sharpened point and ask it!
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Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell