Archive for the ‘question’ Category

My clients know that I have a special fondness for the importance of a leader slowing down to ask important questions rather than just talk. When I talk to other people who do the kind of work I do, I find that many also see the value in coaching their clients to ask good questions.

Asking questions is essential, and is only as good as our willingness to listen to the answers. I was reminded of this twice yesterday:

1. A team I’m working with got into a heated discussion. Everyone felt like they had to get their opinions in. They were interrupting each other, talking over each other, and focused on what they’d say nex to defend their positions. Nobody asked any questions, and nobody was listening.
2. A woman I’ve never met called yesterday to seemingly pick my brain about what I do (she was considering a similar career path). In a half hour “conversation” (this isn’t the right term), she asked me one question – and cut me off when I attempted to answer it. She talked about herself the entire time.

So how do you learn to listen?

Like a 12-step program, our listening – or not – must become a conscious choice, a habit. And it needs to be practiced and ingrained. For starters, consider doing the following:

1. Observe: Although it sounds odd, observe yourself in conversation. How often do you pause for someone else to speak?
2. Stop talking: I know it sounds obvious. But the first step in listening is to shut up.
3. Don’t interrupt: Also obvious, but most of us do this unconsciously.
4. Turn toward the person who is speaking and look them in the eye: We tend to listen on autopilot, not realizing the effect our body language may have on stifling a conversation.
5. Stop the quacking: You know, that incessant voice in your head that wanders off to what you’ll have for lunch or the ugly tie the person you’re speaking with is wearing?
6. Turn off or at least ignore the buzzing, whining, ringing cell phone. When you pay attention to your phone in the middle of a conversation, many will believe you’ve made the choice that the phone is more important than they are.

The above steps are just plain courtesies. They are obvious, but often hard to put into action. They show respect for the person you are speaking to. Learning to do these and making them habit are key. Find someone to help you by observing you and providing feedback.

Next post – part II – will be about going beyond listening – for those really important conversations.

The Huffington Post ran a recent article on this topic. It was serious, but generated all kinds of interesting comments (some are very funny). Take a look, have some fun, and think about what questions have changed or could change your life?

Enjoy.

One of the most amazing things to watch is when a leader actually changes his thinking (or better yet, his beliefs) about a situation. When he sees the role he plays in the situation, and can understand and grasp what he needs to change in himself and how that change is connected to the big picture of his organization or community is a wonderful thing to observe.

When a leader gets caught up in blaming and criticizing others for a problem, its not a bad thing for them to vent their frustration briefly to their coach. However, my clients who’ve done this know that I will ask “What role do you play in the issue?” and “What role can I play to turn it around?” Often, they find that they have more at stake than they thought, as well as some ideas for turning the situation around.

It’s freeing to consider that there is something the leader can do. Just the thought of taking action can light them up.

The next time you feel as if a situation is out of your control and you are a victim, ask yourself:

• What role do I play in this issue?
• What role can I play to turn the situation around?