Ep127 - Curiosity and the Ask Approach in Leadership with Jeff Wetzler

In this podcast episode, Tom welcomes Jeff Wetzler, who joins us from New York.

Jeff introduces his book 'Ask', which centres around enhancing relationships and learning from peers through the art of asking questions. Jeff shares the inspiration behind his book, emphasising the pervasive and painful problem of disconnection he aims to address.

He outlines the ask approach, a set of five practices based on scientific research and practical testing designed to improve learning and relationships by fostering genuine curiosity and creating a psychologically safe environment for sharing. These practices include:

- choosing curiosity;

- making it safe;

- posing quality questions;

- learning actively; and

- the importance of reflecting and reconnecting.

Jeff also discusses the challenges of establishing genuine connections in a digital world, particularly in remote work settings, and offers strategies for organisations to cultivate better learning environments and encourage a culture of curiosity.

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Resources:

Connect with Jeff here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-wetzler-9ba3824

https://www.askapproach.com/#Jeff

https://transcendeducation.org/

Ask: https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Hidden-Unexpected-Breakthroughs-Leadership/dp/0306832690

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About Jeff

Jeff Wetzler has been on a quarter-century quest to transform learning opportunities. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in the fields of business and education, he’s pursued this quest as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, as a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and most recently, as co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization. ~

00:00 Welcoming Jeff to the Show

00:13 The Connection Through Topaz and Leadership in New Zealand

01:11 The Inspiration Behind Jeff's Book on Asking Questions

02:05 Exploring the Ask Approach and Its Impact on Relationships and Learning

03:24 The Challenge of Virtual Connections in Today's Work Environment

04:54 Diving Deep into the Ask Methodology: Curiosity as a Foundation

12:05 Making It Safe: Creating a Comfortable Environment for Sharing

17:41 The Art of Posing Quality Questions

22:15 The Importance of Listening and Understanding in Communication

29:54 Reflecting and Reconnecting: The Final Step in the Ask Approach

33:08 Facilitating Better Learning Environments in Organisations