What is your favourite question?

Russell Geake Project Management Consultant| Deciduous Partners Ltd Lostwithiel, 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.

Saving Changes...

Posted: Feb 14, 2011 4:57 AM

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Patricia Odusami Owner| HigherDrive Consulting LLC Medford, Ny, United States

Favorite Question: What's in it for me?
I learned this from everyday New Yorkers (having moved from a conservative UK environment to a 'Straight-talk' 'no nonsense' New York setting). I now use it now and again when a disgruntled business partner desperately needs my favor ...............What exactly is in it for me? Why should I stick my neck out for you? (these has to be said with some NY attitude) and finally (in US speak), show me the Money!

Posted: May 20, 2011 11:40 PM

Michael Schubert Senior Manager Employee Portal Development| McKesson Cumming, Ga, United States

"What do you think the requirement [fill in the blank] is saying?"

I use this one frequently, most recently this morning when reviewing a set of requirements for a new feature. I find that people blindly take straight-forward, yet ambiguous, requirements and press on. Part of my job is to get a set of requirements that no matter who reads them, the interpretation and intent is clear.

Posted: May 25, 2011 1:47 PM

Andy Hessey Director| AHmedia (Project Management) Ltd Crawley, United Kingdom

I often ask myself the question of "Have you really thought this through???" :-)

I do often ask "If you were an end user, how would you feel about this change?". While I may get a bit of a strange look, it often reveals a lot about the motives behind the changes - are they doing it because it will really benefit the users or because it looks and sounds good.

Posted: May 26, 2011 5:14 AM

Sylvie Edwards Professor/Program coordinator| Durham College (DC) Whitby, Ontario, Canada

What can I do to help?

I like to ask it myself and I like it to be asked of me. With this kind of question you build trust, learn from one another and manage work better.

Posted: Jun 9, 2011 10:14 AM

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What is your favourite question?

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