Author and educator Jeff Wetzler discusses the power of asking better questions to unlock hidden wisdom and improve leadership. The episode explores fostering open dialogue, innovative retirement conversations, and mastering the art of questioning to enhance communication skills with AI assistance.
Effective questions incorporate personal stories to foster communication.
Creating safe spaces for open dialogue enhances trust and encourages authentic conversations.
Deep dives
Understanding the Fear of Getting Lost
Jude, a child frightened to take the bus to school, revealed his fear of getting lost upon disembarking. Despite combating his apprehension with direct inquiries, Jesse, the parent, found success by sharing a personal childhood anecdote. This shift to storytelling enabled Jude to express his concerns, highlighting the effectiveness of framing questions and responses with personal narratives.
Enhancing Learning Through Curiosity
Jeff Wetzler, co-founder of Transcend, emphasized the significance of asking quality questions and fostering genuine curiosity in learning environments. Empowering individuals to seek insight and perspectives can lead to enhanced communication, decision-making, and relationships. By framing questions with a genuine drive to learn, individuals can tap into hidden wisdom and drive meaningful interactions.
Creating Safe Spaces for Honest Conversations
Jeff introduces the concept of 'make it safe,' emphasizing the importance of establishing environments conducive to open communication. By lowering barriers and nurturing connections, individuals can encourage honest dialogue and feedback. Radiating resilience and creating a safe space for sharing fosters trust and facilitates deeper, more authentic conversations.
Reflection and Continuous Learning
Jeff advocates for reflection as a tool to extract learning from conversations, shaping personal growth and understanding. Through 'reflect and reconnect,' individuals can sift through information, uncover insights, and revisit conversations with newfound perspectives. Engaging in deep reflection not only enhances learning but also strengthens relationships and communication channels.
Curiosity is a treasured trait we can all benefit from. It’s the desire to learn about and from each other, and today’s guest is an expert on curiosity. Jeff Wetzler is the author of “Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life.” He has dedicated his career to learning as the co-founder of the education non-profit, Transcend. Jeff joins Jessi to share how we can ask the right questions and learn as much as we can from each other.