The best question at last night's book signing/presentation was unfortunately asked after I stopped answering questions from the lectern.
Q: How do I know if we are successful at claiming our 5-fold Way position? 
A: First and foremost - they will tell you. You will get phone calls and emails letting you know. Before that begins to happen, you may have to ask. "We are striving to be a ___________ company. Do you think we are?"
It can be daunting to ask such a question. You open yourself up to criticism, failure, and unsought-after advice. You need to know. You need this as much as anything else you receive from your customers.
This fits with something I have been saying quite a bit lately (here and here). If you are afraid to ask a question, then you NEED to ask that question. If fear is the reason, then the best way to remove that fear is to ask the question.
I can see that the answer may not be what you wanted to hear, and yet IT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW. (Sorry for yelling, just felt that needed emphasis.)
Asking hard questions is part of the leadership role of a Modern Magellan. Dealing with difficult situations is part of the job for anyone who manages others. Facing reality is something we all must do - like it or not.
What I would like to know is?
What is the toughest question you need to ask and how you ask it?
Roger:
I think the toughest question to ask is always the one we don't really want to hear the answer to. We all know which one(s) that is.
The other real hurdle is that we may not know how to ask a question in a way that allows the person asked the total freedom to speak their mind. This is when we say that sometimes the lie is in the question.
People attempt to avoid confrontation at *all* costs -- even at the cost of clarity and better performance.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | June 1, 2007 3:19 PM | Permalink to Comment