Russell GeakeProject Management Consultant| Deciduous Partners LtdLostwithiel, Cornwall, United Kingdom
"Judge a man by the questions he asks, not by the answers he gives" so said Voltaire. I can't remember when I first read this - mid-teens possibly, but it has stuck with me, and been emphasised by Nancy Klein in Time to Think, Edward de Bono, Adam Kahane and many others and I have long had this particular question in my mind...so here it is out in the open -
What Is Your Favourite Question?
Why? Where and when did you use it last, (what was the scenario) and how often do you use it?
I'm really looking forward to hearing your answers and the discussions that might follow.
Use it personally and professionally, it is not aggressive, it encourages a two way conversation, do use it often. Professionally it will relate to work so the answer I usually get is work related - with friends the answers vary and can be interesting. A simple question and yet the answers are always different. Saving Changes...
Russell GeakeProject Management Consultant| Deciduous Partners LtdLostwithiel, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Thanks Vasoula, nice answer, so since you asked....
things are great thank you, the new contract is going well with a lot of projects to pick up and run with...(we are going Agile at the same time). With rising oil prices I am glad that my daily commute is reduced from 70 miles to just 18, not only saving me a huge amount of money (£1500 per year at todays prices - of which £946 would have gone to the government) I'm now thinking about getting an electric car! Alongside the financial gains, each week I get an extra 12.5 hours for activities other than driving and I can fit in a swim before work ...another bonus is that I get to see my wife for longer each day. Work-life may even become balanced.
Things are good thank you, taken time out for a couple of weeks as my dad had a total hip operation he is at home on his way to recovery. As always my schedule is busy. Planning a holiday end of May back to my Cyprus flat can't wait.
Favorite Question: "What would you say if you did know?" It's very Jungian (I got it from a Psychologist friend) and I use it all the time when someone tells me that they don't know something. Saving Changes...
Russell GeakeProject Management Consultant| Deciduous Partners LtdLostwithiel, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Excellent Linda - might start using that one myself - TODAY...in one of our Agile scrums yesterday after the usual "what are you working on today?" I asked an additional question "what would you rather be doing?"...
@Vasoula, my mum had hers done about 5 years ago, she wasn't meant to be doing much for a few weeks, but was up and running (alost literally) after a few days and playing badminton in the garden! I hope the recovery goes well :) Saving Changes...
Paula SzyjkaBusiness Analyst Sr| Legg Mason Technology ServicesOwings Mills, Md, United States
Thanks for ASKING Russell.
My fav question either at work or not is 'What do you do for fun?' It really for whatever reason stumps people and maybe convicts them that they aren't having enough fun in their life.
I use it whenever I met new people or when catching up with old friends I haven't seen in awhile. Saving Changes...
I like the question "How did you arrive at your answer?" This helps me understand the other person's thought process and opens many doors for further productive exploration. I probably do not ask this enough, tending to either take an answer at face value or immediately launch into some rebuttal. Of course the "How's your day going?" question is also very beneficial -- especially if we really listen to the answer. Many questions are like that. Saving Changes...
Hi Russell,
Similar to Vasoula, I tend to ask "how are are you going?" a nice open ended question that allows the recipient to explain where they are etc. Sometimes if I get one word answers I will follow up with "Is there anything I can do to help you?" this can bring out any road blocks or issues, even if the answer is "no you can't help but I am talking to a about ...." Saving Changes...
Russell GeakeProject Management Consultant| Deciduous Partners LtdLostwithiel, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Today I might add "who set off the fire alarm?"
thanks for the replies, Lloyd, yours certainly digs deeper into the mind, and goes along the 5-whys line...without being so rigid or repetetive.
Paula - that's great, do you often find that people aren't having enough fun or perhaps even get slightly jealous that they are having too much fun?
I've been thinking...how about this a little further so, what is your least favourite question? either the one you hate to ask, or the one you dread being asked...
When people in work specifically ask me 'can you do me a favour?'
I know that it is not to get them a cup of coffee! or share my apple! it is usually most of the time to change my plans, a simple example is 'could I have your meeting room' they say [which I booked weeks before] so they could hold their meeting because it is bigger has more facilities and one of the Directors will be attending! In exchange they offer a smaller meeting room or could I cancel my meeting! politely my answer is sorry but No need facilities too.
