Smarter Messaging [Mike Jones, UK] » Leadership http://www.smartermessaging.com How do we enable smarter conversations? Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:29:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Asking and answering hard questions http://www.smartermessaging.com/2009/05/17/asking-and-answering-hard-questions/ http://www.smartermessaging.com/2009/05/17/asking-and-answering-hard-questions/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 16:38:55 +0000 Mike Jones http://www.smartermessaging.com/?p=106 It struck me during a session at work the other day that sometimes “fear of saying the wrong thing” or procrastination seems to lead people to behave more like politicians than leaders. By behaving like politicians I’m not referring to the current inability to know the difference between a “work related expense” and “taking a sly one”, which was at first amusing and swifly became another nail in the “what are they good for?” coffin they were already lying in for me. I am more referring to their habit of answering a question with another question.

Let me answer that by asking you this…

I’ve seem to have a reputation at work for speaking my mind without holding back, whoever the recipient may be, peer or exec. This may get me into trouble one day (and probably already has) but I’d rather deal with occasionally clearing up a mess than sit there in a perfectly clean but static environment. I think especially at senior levels within larger organisation the feeling that the people on the ground who come and quiz you know more than you do about some areas of the business. As mentioned before the fear of saying the wrong thing and looking like an idiot leads to skirting round the question. I believe this stems from a mis-perception that great leaders have all the answers. When I ask someone in a role that has a great span of control than mine their opinion on something, I’d rather have their view based on that span of control they have as it will help me in a few ways. Firstly, it will give me an insight into areas that I don’t have (e.g. I think numbers are up and they may be 300% in my area but that is cancelled out by a 10% drop in a much larger area than mine). Secondly, they teach me about the information flow and any improvements that may need to be made to help people make more informed decisions. Thirdly, people just see things differently based on their background and career. I would rather have the benefit of hearing that and add it into my understanding and experience.

So next time I ask a tough question, don’t reflect it back to me as a question please. I’d rather …

You know what, I don’t know for sure but based on my understanding … 

Pretty please.

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