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Questions about project success
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 it is, 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 now, 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 question is designed to make you question your own position. Perhaps your provoked answer will be, "Well, actually, I'm not sure"—and yet you'll keep reading.
The advantage of such questions is that you're usually more convinced by your own answer. I could have also forced you to do what's best for you in a schoolmasterly way: "You must keep reading because I know you'll learn a lot of important things that you couldn't possibly know." But I don't do that because I know the disadvantages:
- You don't have to do anything.
- If you have to, then you don't want to, meaning your motivation is low.
- How can I know that you don't know more about the art of questioning than I do?
To prevent the motivation I've just so nicely generated from being immediately sacrificed on the altar of my ego, I'll refrain from remarks like, "Didn't I tell you so?". Instead, I humbly thank you for your willingness to continue reading. I admit, that's sometimes difficult for me.
Unfortunately, the possibilities for using this miracle cure are somewhat limited in written text. Therefore, please imagine the scene described above as a personal conversation. In this case, I could draw on a wealth of experience. If you indicate to me that you have already dealt with the topic yourself, then 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 chance 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 points with feedback like "interesting" or "I agree with you." My goal isn't to prove to you that I'm the smarter one, but rather to show that questions are a real game-changer. And that works best when you convince yourself. By asking insightful questions, I can help you discover new and interesting aspects.
So what do I do if I have a different opinion? Instead of resorting to rhetorical tactics like "Yes, but..." or "No, that can't be, because..." to stifle or silence you, it's considerably more useful to uncover the background of your argument by asking questions. If you're indeed barking up the wrong tree, you might figure it out yourself by trying to answer my questions. Then I'll save myself the arduous process of counter-argumentation. I'll congratulate us both on having enriched our knowledge together (and that's exactly what will happen). If I happen to be the one galloping in the wrong direction, I can learn without embarrassing myself.
If you want good answers, ask the right questions!
(Source: foto art Elisabeth Wiesner)
Now, since I've already revealed myself as a fan of questions, you could ask me something like, "What would you do if a dependent employee constantly asked what to do?" Naturally, I would immediately counter with a question of my own: "What do you think I would do?" And in doing so, I'd already give you the answer: ask questions. Great questions in such situations are:
- „"What would you do in my place?"“
- „"What have you already tried?"“
- „What did you or others do in similar situations?“
- „Why do you think it hasn’t worked so far?“
After that, I hope to have the patience for two behaviors that are crucial for the success of a question. First, I'll keep quiet to give you time to think. As the person being asked, you're not in an easy position: you're now thinking about my question first and then about your answer. If I answer the question myself or follow up with another question while you're pondering it, I'll have ruined everything. So, I'll count to at least five in my head to avoid this trap. Second, when you answer, I'll show you my interest through eye contact, nodding, brief feedback, and clarifying questions.
Active listening is the best way to ensure 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.
The miracle therefore unfolds in three steps: asking questions, waiting, and listening.
If you come up with a good idea this way, I'll congratulate you on your success and say something like, "Great, that could work." And I'll immediately add a follow-up question: "What do you think about trying it out tomorrow?" This follow-up question has the significant advantage over a simple request like "Why don't you try it out tomorrow?" in that it maintains and even strengthens your sense of personal responsibility.
I'll end this brief foray into the world of W-Wonders, as usual, with a question: Are you interested in a concise overview of questioning techniques? I'd be happy to send it to you free of charge. Just send me an email with the subject line "Questions" to p.siwon@die-menschliche-Seite.de.
I would also be pleased if you would send me your questions and answers on this topic.
Further information
Training & coaching
MicroConsult Training & Coaching on project management
MicroConsult training and coaching - overview
Food for thought:
Column by Peter Siwon about the human side of project work
Peter Siwon: Systemic project management
