As leaders, we know it’s important to ask questions, and to ask them well. “Why did you think that was a good idea?!” is a great way to go only if you don’t want a constructive answer. But “How could we have made this idea work?” That starts a conversation.
Yahoo! Small Business Advisor recommends other good questions to ask employees:
1. Do you have everything you need?
2. What can be improved?
3. How am I doing?
4. What’s keeping you up at night?
Good questions should foster healthy conversations and inspire growth. Not leave an employee feeling embittered or hurt. Entrepreneur offers other good questions to start a healthy conversation with employees: “What’s something you’d like to get better at next month?” or “What roadblocks or breakdowns have frustrated you this month?”
And if you (and I) still struggle to phrase questions constructively rather than harshly, i.e. “Whose fault is that?!,” remember that we need our employees. Our organizations could not survive without their help, talents, ideas and skills.
Good questions and constructive conversation starters are an excellent way for us, as leaders, to foster better communication throughout our organizations. Next week I’ll discuss the flip side of this and how bad questions can destroy your employees and your organization.
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This week I’ve been in Philadelphia at NAFCU’s Management and Leadership Institute. Leadership guru John Spence presented earlier this week on characteristics of great leaders. It was a great presentation.
As NAFCU’s 2014 conference schedule is winding down, I wanted to invite you to check out our 2015 conference schedule. We have an awesome lineup of conferences in some great locations.
