Jeff Wetzler, an accomplished author and international management consultant, dives into the power of asking questions to unlock potential in organizations. He discusses common barriers to communication and the ASK approach, emphasizing the need for genuine curiosity in leadership. Wetzler highlights techniques for fostering a culture of openness and trust, including the 'question sandwich' and active listening. He also shares insights on using journaling for self-reflection and how leaders can transform their teams by encouraging inquiry, driving innovation, and building connections.
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Quick takeaways
Asking the right questions is essential for effective leadership, as it unlocks hidden insights and fosters team collaboration.
Creating a safe communication environment allows team members to share their struggles and ideas without fear of judgment.
Effective listening encompasses understanding content, emotion, and action, which deepens connections and enhances team empathy.
Deep dives
The Value of Asking Questions
Asking questions is highlighted as a crucial skill for effective leadership, capable of unlocking potential within teams. Leaders often miss essential information because team members may feel reluctant to share their struggles and ideas. This barrier primarily stems from fear of judgment and a lack of perceived openness in communication. By fostering a culture where questions are encouraged and appreciated, leaders can tap into a wealth of insights and solutions that might otherwise remain hidden.
Creating a Safe Environment
Establishing a safe environment is essential for facilitating open communication and gathering honest feedback from team members. Leaders must recognize the impact of their roles and work to ensure that team members feel at ease when sharing challenging truths. Taking informal walks, rather than sitting behind a desk, can help to reduce power dynamics that might inhibit openness. By also sharing their vulnerabilities and being transparent about their intentions, leaders can model an atmosphere where honesty thrives.
Crafting Quality Questions
Quality questions are essential for effective communication and discovery in leadership contexts. By distinguishing between crummy questions and quality ones, leaders can guide conversations more effectively and gain deeper insights. Techniques such as the 'question sandwich' can help clarify intentions behind questions, encouraging productive dialogue. Additionally, actively inviting team members to share their reactions can help prevent assumptions and misunderstandings.
Listening Beyond Words
Effective listening involves more than just hearing words; it requires paying attention to the emotional undertones and actions behind those words. Leaders should focus on three channels of listening: content, emotion, and action. By engaging with all three aspects, leaders can gain a richer understanding of the perspectives being shared. This comprehensive approach to listening promotes stronger connections and empathy within teams.
The Importance of Reflection and Reconnection
Reflection is vital to transform insights from conversations into actionable outcomes. Leaders can engage in a process of sifting through feedback to identify key takeaways and relevant actions. Moreover, reconnecting with team members after discussions not only reinforces the value of their input but also strengthens relationships. By sharing insights gained from conversations and showing appreciation for contributions, leaders cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
The reasons why people don't share what's really on their minds
Barriers to communication in organizations
Jeff introduces the ASK approach and shares how to make it a part of your organization's culture
Why asking bad questions can backfire and how to ask good ones
....and much more!
Join us for a conversation that will change how you approach leadership and communication. Learn how to harness the superpower of asking questions and unlock the collective genius within your team.
Jeff Wetzler has been on a quarter-century quest to transform learning opportunities and unlock human potential. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in the fields of business and education, he’s pursued this quest as an international management consultant to executives in Fortune 500 corporations, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and currently, as co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized education innovation organization. Jeff earned a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brown University. He is an Aspen Global Leadership Fellow and an Edmund Hillary Fellow. Jeff lives in New York with his wife, two children, and their puppy.
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