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DE 
Today I'm going to introduce you to a miracle cure that will save you a lot of energy, time, and money in your projects. At the same time, it motivates your employees. The application of this miracle cure has a lot to do with the letter W, as in miracle. The best part? It costs nothing, and you're all familiar with it.
The remarkable thing about this miracle cure is that it's still used far too infrequently. If you're now wondering what that could be, you're already very close to the answer.
Here are a few more tips:
- What is the most effective way to obtain information?
- What's the quickest way to find out what other people are thinking?
- What's the fastest way to find solutions?
The answer to all these questions is: Ask questions.
And they often begin with where, how, when, or who. Perhaps you're disappointed by this simple answer after I've whetted your appetite with all sorts of miraculous promises. At this point, you could jokingly bring up the topic and ask, "How do you come to call this method a miracle cure?" Or you could think, bored, "I know, ask open-ended questions," and stop reading. Are you absolutely sure you know all my arguments? This is admittedly a bit manipulative, but at least this question prompts you to re-examine your own position. Perhaps the answer you've provoked will be, "Well, actually, I'm not sure"—and you'll continue reading after all.
To draw from the fullness of W
Written text unfortunately limits the possibilities for using this miracle cure somewhat. Therefore, please imagine a personal conversation. In this case, I could draw on a wealth of experience. If you indicate that you have already dealt with the topic yourself, I will ask you, for example: "That's great. What experiences have you had?" or "What would you recommend based on your experience?" Now I have the opportunity to learn something from you.
At the same time, I save energy and effort by simply listening. I'll also refrain from comments like "I already know that." On the contrary, I'll reinforce your statements with feedback like "interesting" or "I agree with you." My goal isn't to prove I'm the smarter one, but rather to show that asking questions is a real game-changer. And that works best when you convince yourself. By asking insightful questions, I can help you discover new and interesting perspectives.
So what should I do if I have a different opinion? Instead of resorting to rhetorical attacks like "Yes, but..." or "No, that can't be, because..." to stifle your argument, it's considerably more helpful to uncover the reasons behind your statement by asking questions. If you're barking up the wrong tree, perhaps you'll figure it out yourself by trying to answer my questions.
I'll then save myself the arduous process of arguing against it. I'll simply congratulate us both on having enriched our knowledge together (and that's exactly what we've done). If I happen to be the one going in the wrong direction, I can learn something without embarrassing myself.
Shut up and listen
Two behaviors are particularly important for the success of my questions. First, I keep quiet to give you time to think. As the person being questioned, you don't have it easy: you now have to think about my question first and then about your answer. If I answer the question myself or fire off another question while you're pondering it, I'll have ruined everything. So I count to at least five in my head to avoid this trap.
Secondly, when you reply, I show my interest through eye contact, nodding, brief feedback, and clarifying questions. Active listening is the best way to ensure that I don't miss anything important. At the same time, most people perceive it as a sign of great appreciation. In this way, I gain your trust through questions and listening.
Further information
Training & coaching
MicroConsult Training & Coaching on Project Management
Food for thought:
Column by Peter Siwon about the human side of project work
