How to ask smart and efficient managers at work
*Published:* Director’s Journal
Smart people ask others questions that have good and varied answers and they can learn a lot from them. The problem is that we have limiting questions.
We ask in such a way that the answer is already known.
Even in many cases, we don’t pay attention to the other party’s answer at all. Because we ask questions in such a way that the answer is clear.
Wrong questions in the workplace and the best alternative to them:
Questions that are asked to get approval from others.
These questions only limit the mind of the other party. So instead of thinking and presenting the best solution, he only gives you the answer you want. Like asking: “Isn’t it better to deliver that order as it is?” Do you think we should wait again?”
Many of these questions have only one answer, and your answer is quite clear.
You can ask these questions like this:
What do you think we can do about these orders? What do you think we should do?”
These questions do not contain the original answer and each of them allows the other party to think about the answer well. There are many answers to these questions.
Questions that present only two options to the other party.
Imagine that you want to deliver an order to a customer, but on the way you realize that it is not of the desired quality. You think about it and you have only two solutions for it, both of which have pros and cons. Now you ask the members of your group and put two solutions in front of them. “Do you think we should start all over again? Or should we continue and hope that the customer will not notice the lack of order?”
Team members choose one of these two solutions; Because there are only two limited solutions and their minds are focused on these two ways. There is definitely a better solution that you haven’t considered.
So with your wrong and limited question, you have taken away the power of thinking about the third way from the team members. You should not limit the minds of your group members to only a few solutions.
Questions not really asked to know.
Do you think you are showing weakness if you ask about something?
Do you appear weak and vulnerable as a manager?
Maybe you are right. The best way is to ask for clarification instead of asking questions. Ask your question like this:
“Your solution impressed me. Imagine that I have no knowledge about this, how can you explain it to me?”
Tips on how to phrase the question:
Express your question in one sentence.
You should ask your questions clearly and in detail, but be limited to one sentence only. For example: “How can the quality of the product be improved?”
Only when you give an option for your questions that no other option is possible.
Of course, this is not true in most cases; Because there are usually many solutions for every problem.
Do not include the answer in your questions.
If you know the answer, you don’t need to include it in your question. So the questions you ask should not have possible answers.
Talk as little as possible.
When you ask other people, it means you want to know what they know or guess about the subject. So keep quiet and just listen. When you ask someone the right questions, you should expect to learn a lot from their answers.
This post is written by shadmanamini