Leadership Habit 44: Ask More Questions
Communication is critical. Nearly everyone expresses the importance of communication but have you thought about your communication habits? Should you ask more questions?
It’s not uncommon, people communicate to be heard. Sometimes asking questions can be more valuable than telling. When you truly understand the value in communication you might discover that it is more important to listen.
Asking questions creates an environment for listening. Will more questions improve communication?
Ask More Questions
More questions help to improve communication in many ways. Here are a dozen of many:
- Drive purpose. Besides income, people connect with their job based on purpose.
- Clarify assumptions. Confusion often exists between design and the final outcome.
- Allow for new directions. Shift thinking or pivot to new areas of focus.
- Prompt more questions. More questions might be the best way to get things right, the first time.
- Set vision. What will it look like? Everyone will get a better picture when their questions are answered.
- Invite creativity. There might be more than one way or one possibility.
- Restore hope. Doubts set limits and hold things back. Questioning the possibilities sometimes restores hope.
- Create flexibility. Rules and guidelines are very important, so is a reasonable amount of flexibility.
- Confirm actions. Getting things right will lead to more future success.
- Set examples. Wondering what happens next. Ask and you’ll know.
- Change attitudes. Understand what makes the effort worthwhile.
- Drive better habits. What you question might be your focus. Focus on better habits.
Have you ever considered how questions can become the game changer? Instead of demands, rules, and policies, questions might the best way to send your message.
Communication is Critical
If you believe communication is critical then having a habit of asking more questions just might make things easier.
You really have nothing to lose, only more to gain.
Are you asking enough questions?
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
