At the beginning of every workshop we teach, we ask participants to briefly self-assess their thinking and communication skills. Not surprisingly, more than 60% cite the following as their personal Achilles heel: “communicating clearly and concisely at the speed of conversation.” Answering questions that others ask us during meetings isn’t always easy. Anxiety can surface: We may worry that our comments could hurt a colleague’s feelings or be perceived as insensitive. We may worry that … [Read more...]
Credibility
The First Step for Mindful Communication
We live in an age of ever-increasing chatter. The never-ending stream of messages, alerts, reminders, and emails means our minds rarely settle during the workday. In this context, it’s easy to rush as we ask questions and deliver answers in our meetings. We think we can’t pause for a second or two, because if we do: Someone might hijack the thread of our discussion, leaving issues unaddressed. We’ll be viewed as less credible or knowledgeable. We’ll lose out on the opportunity to add … [Read more...]
Three Ways to Use Questions to Attune to Others
“We all live in the world our questions create,” according to David Cooperrider, the founder of Appreciative Inquiry. That observation is a testament to the power of questions to shape so much of our life at work -- what we ask sets the stage for who we will become together. In addition, how we ask sets the stage for much of how we feel, how willing we are to explore, and how deeply we are willing to join together with others to accomplish our aims. Warren Berger, author of A More Beautiful … [Read more...]
Can You Pass the Credibility Test?
Political season always makes us think about the power of Evidence Questions. In the Precision Q+A framework, Evidence Questions aren’t just about analyzing data, they also help us assess credibility and weigh reasons for and against a position. A political position involves balancing pros and cons, weighing upsides and downsides, and marshalling support for a conclusion. This month we have the perfect opportunity to practice asking about evidence in order to build our credibility. Faced with … [Read more...]
Preparing for Review Meetings
This Skill Sharpener summarizes what most leaders expect in review meetings, and how you can best prepare for them. It also answers a question that was asked by a senior manager who recently attended a Discover Your Best Thinking with Precision Q+A workshop: “Sometimes I say ‘That's a great question' before I answer questions. Should I be more direct and just answer?" It depends on whether you are in a review meeting or a collaborative problem-solving meeting. Read on to learn more about … [Read more...]
So Much To Say, So Little Time
Developing expertise in our work is fulfilling, and when customers and colleagues call on us it feels gratifying. As we spend time in a domain, we come to see all the nuance and detail. But expertise also comes with a hidden cost: we are inclined to share all that detail with others who don’t need or understand it. If we don’t disrupt this dynamic, it hinders us from effectively making use of our expertise. The 4Practices of Precision Answering offer a helpful path toward making our expertise … [Read more...]