Asking For It

  ProjectsAtWork  

Good questions produce good answers -- and better project results.

Project managers use a vast array of simple and complex software tools to gather information and interact with team members, management and sponsors. But one tool everyone has in their possession is often used poorly: the question.

"The quality of our interaction often boils down to the quality of our questions," says Dan Ross of CoachYourBusiness.com. "Our brains operate like a computer. You aren't likely to get quality information back if you input information in a format it doesn't understand. The same is true with people-ask a quality question, get a quality answer. Better answers lead to better results."

For three general project issues, Ross suggests some possible questions that can help get to the heart of the matter.

issue: "Accounting says the numbers are bad."

ask: "How do they know?" "How are the numbers bad?" "The numbers are bad compared with what?"

issue: "It's going to be impossible to do it by Friday."

ask: "What prevents it from being possible?" "What happens if you find a way to do it by Friday?"

issue: "I want you and Joe to talk about the Taz project."

ask: "What specifically do you want?" "What will having that do for you?" "What resources do …

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