Is it more important to have the answer? Or the right question?
It’s wonderful to arrive at answers. From what to have for dinner to the meaning of life (and everything in between) answers provide clarity, certainty and a way forward.
And they help us demonstrate what we know. But often times it’s the question that is asked that helps get not just to an answer, but the best answer.
“What would you like for dinner?” can yield a much different result, with a lot more possibilities, than “Would you like Pizza or Spaghetti?”
Science and math often have only one correct answer to a problem. A specific problem. But unless you work in these disciplines there are not many problems that need to be solved in a career in business that have only one single, clear, correct answer.
Often a number of alternatives can be right. And it is often the process that gets you to an answer that is important to get you, and the people you work with, to the best outcomes.
And that process – is to ask questions.
Questions can help you:
- find out what other people think, their preferences and needs
- uncover issues or concerns that you weren’t aware of
- learn new information
- be offered alternatives or ideas that you didn’t think of. Or even know existed.
- confirm that your own thinking was correct (nice when this happens!)
- have an interaction with someone that stimulates your own thinking and ideas
- check your understanding of a situation or what you’ve been told
And countless more benefits!
From my experience there are 3 additional very significant benefits to asking questions that can impact on your effectiveness at work and credibility.
What are they I hear you ask?
1. Relationship building.
Asking questions is a great way to build a relationship with another person. It also applies to building relationships in groups, teams, departments and even across organizations. (They’re all made up of people, right?)
Questions can help you do this by:
- demonstrating your respect for the other person by seeking their opinion
- acknowledging their expertise
- actively encouraging their involvement in an issue through discussion
Questions encourage conversation.
Conversation is communication. Good communication.
And you never know what you will learn…
2. Demonstrate your knowledge.
Asking questions actually provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate what you know, how much you understand about a topic or at the very least, the thought processes you have followed to get to your question.
Others will judge your competence and your credibility by the quality of the questions that you ask.
There are plenty of occasions in business when the questions you ask can be more important than the answers you give.
Take a job interview. I’ve interviews hundreds of people over the years for jobs and promotions. It is often the answer to the casual question at the end of the interview, “Do you have any questions for me about the job/role/company”, that is one of the most important.
Too often the answer is “No, I think I’m right. I know what I need to know for now” Really? How can they possibly know everything they need to know? Aren’t they meant to be assessing whether the role/company/me as manager is right for them? (That’s a big fat fail in my books – just in case you were wondering!)
But ask a quality question that demonstrates good knowledge or demonstrates your thinking …and this can be more insightful for the interviewer than the answers that have been given to technical or procedural questions in the interview.
This is just one example of many work situations where questions are vital!
3. Contribute to discussions.
Have you ever been in a meeting where you are not the main speaker or the subject matter expert?
Have you felt a bit awkward about speaking up?
A question is the answer!
A well thought out question that demonstrates your understanding of the topic, your thought processes or even that you were listening can do a lot for your credibility. And it gives you a chance to contribute.
The Career Tip To Go:
The ability to ask questions is a skill all in itself.
The benefits to your credibility, effectiveness at work and relationships with others make it an area well worth investing some time and effort.
Would you like to learn how to ask more questions? Next time you go to say something, how about thinking how you could reword your thought/comment and ask it as a question?
You never know what you’ll learn. Do you?
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Despite the very best of intentions, well formulated goals and detailed plans – life happens and those well laid plans to achieve your career goals can go off track.
Whether it’s attending network events, devoting time to developing your skills or spending time on something you love (like blogging about career skills for instance!) sometimes other things take precedence.
People get sick, you move house, an urgent deadline, client demands, unplanned activities, house guests…all sorts of things can get in the way of those plans to do more to develop your career and work towards your goals.
You may have deviated from your plan and be disappointed about the lost time but if you really want to achieve those goals the trick is to get back on track.
Here’s 9 tips to get your career goals (and in fact any type of goals) back on track:
1. Don’t beat yourself up
Whatever has taken you off track has happened. It is what it is.
It is wasted time and energy to beat yourself up over the fact that you haven’t done what you were going to. Not only will it just make you feel bad, it’s time and effort you could be putting into getting back going.
There is some advantage though to putting a little bit of thought into what happened and why. Which might just prevent it happening again.
2. Review your old plan
It might not be written down but if you are working towards your goals there would at least be a plan in your head (or you wouldn’t be off track now!)
Review the plan you had and assess whether you set yourself up for failure… some of the common issues are:
- Not writing the plan down – did you lose track what you were going to do?
- Not having specific actions identified – was the action too vague? Did you identify what you were going to do when, how you were going to do it and when?
- Being too ambitious – did you have more on your plan than you could reasonably achieve?
- It wasn’t the right plan – did you not have the actions that would help you achieve your goals?
Or did unforeseen circumstances just get in your way?
If that’s the case, just acknowledge the fact and move on.
But if there is something you could have done to prevent going off track…adjust your plan so it’s easier to stick to and will help you work towards your goals.
It’s your plan and your goals…why shouldn’t you make it as easy on yourself as you can?
3. Reaffirm your goals
Have an honest appraisal with yourself, or a chat with a mentor or trusted adviser, and reaffirm that you are working towards the goal/s that you really, really want.
It’s hard to stick to the course of a plan if it is not your priority. Or if it is not moving you towards something that you really want.
Career development is a non-mandatory activity. There is (not usually) anyone telling you what you have to do and when. There are often no greater implications than disappointing yourself if you don’t follow through and the later loss of potential opportunities.
But there is not a manager or a partner or parent holding you to account. It’s why so many people have personal trainers to work towards their fitness goals. They pay to be held to account because they are committed to their goals (well that’s the justification I tell myself when I am being yelled at anyway!)
It’s you holding you to account. Make sure it’s for what you want.
4. Evaluate where you are
Once you’ve reviewed what took you off track and confirmed that you have the right goals for you (or set new ones)…evaluate exactly where you are now.
It’s like your reading your credit card statement each month…there is no point leaving it unopened and be in denial about what you owe. You have to know how far in the red you are to work out how you are going to pay it off.
It’s the same thing with working towards a career goal. Know where you are now so you can work out what to do next.
5. Make a specific and actionable plan
Set yourself specific objectives. What you are going to do. And when you are going to do it.
If its networking. Who with? Reconnecting with people you know to keep contacts current? Or meeting new people? Decide who you want to meet with and when you are going to do it.
If its to learn something. What do you want to learn (and why)? How can you learn it? Who do you need to talk to? Is there a course you can do? When is the course or person available?
If its to find a mentor. What do you want to learn? Who could you learn it from? When are you going to approach them? How? When?
You get the drift…
6. Prioritize where to start
Once you have your action plan – prioritize where to start.
What is most important? What can you fit in with your other priorities? What will get you a’quick win’ to give give you inspiration to keep going? What’s first?
7. Tell someone what you are doing
I’m not suggesting that you make an announcement on social media but sharing your plan with someone you trust can give you ‘fresh eyes’ and feedback on your plan. More importantly, it can provide you with some accountability to make sure you stick to your plan.
When I was writing my first book I told lots of trusted advisers (I like to think out loud. To be completely honest I just like to talk). I received lots of encouragement, support and feedback. And I just had to finish it once I had made it know that I had started. For me that accountability probably made the difference between an idea and a reality.
8. Start
So all the best laid plans don’t amount to anything if you don’t do something about them. The only way to actually get your goal back on track is to start!
Review Step 6 …what’s first?
9. Keep going
Once you have started – keep going. Be realistic about what you can do. But don’t make excuses. Celebrate the small wins. Be flexible, other priorities will try and get in the way. Keep going.
And you’re back on track! It might not be the same one as before. It might be even better! And you’re working on your dreams and goals.
Enjoy the process!!
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