Asking Powerful Questions Book Summary
Asking Powerful Questions is a guide to build better connections with others.
Category: Influencing
Influencing
This is a blog post about influencing. Influencing is your power to be a compelling force on the actions of others. Hamilton Philip Lindley is a influential Waco Texas business professional. Influencing is contrasted with a command. A command says, “Do this because I said so.” Influence says, “I am want you to see that this is the best course of action in terms of long-term benefits for the both of us.” When the external consequences of command are removed, they no longer has any influence over the person. But influence comes from the inside out, which has a better long term effect.
How to Create a Team That No One Wants to Leave
Many people are leaving their jobs, creating a trend called “quitagion.” Employers think it’s about pay or work-life balance, but employees leaving say it’s because they don’t feel valued or that they belong. Some successful businesses during the pandemic increased employee satisfaction by 48 percent, following five guidelines. 1. Put …
Show Warmth Before Strength To Effectively Lead
“My friend can’t wait to get to the hotel and spill the latest office gossip,” my friend shared. “I wanted to call you earlier, but my boss was with me in the cab.” “Before you dive into the drama, let me ask you something,” I said. “Do you ever talk …
How to Deal with Others Who Use Your Past Against You
You don’t learn to read as a child without failing. Nobody accuses you of being bad reader now because you were constantly falling at it when you were a child. It’s no secret that we all fail and that pain forces us to evolve into getting better. Adult mistakes are …
Leading with Compassion
As the pandemic unfolded, leaders faced a substantial emotional burden. Over nearly two years, they supported teams in dealing with the grief and loss caused by the pandemic, addressed declining mental health among employees, navigated people’s anxieties, and often openly shared their own vulnerabilities. They became like Counselors-in-Chief. While excellent …
How to Get Your Ideas Up the Corporate Ladder
You might have a fantastic idea to improve a product, enhance your team’s productivity, or prevent a looming problem in your business. The challenge is approaching your boss about it, or maybe you’ve tried but haven’t gotten their attention. Even though studies show how important it is for employees to …
Choice Encourages Employees to Speak Up at Work
Korean Air had more plane crashes than almost any other airline globally, not because of old planes or poorly trained pilots, but due to its cultural legacy. Korean culture is hierarchical, where being submissive to elders and superiors is required. This cultural norm led co-pilots to defer to their captains, …
Build Rapport Like a Spy
Building trust with your colleagues is crucial. Your coworkers are more likely to help you achieve your goals if they trust you. Developing a connection with others is the first step in accomplishing your objectives. But how do you go from being a friendly stranger to a trusted peer? Feeling …
Good Leaders Ask Questions Instead of Giving Direct Orders
A long time ago, a management expert believed that bosses should tell employees what to do because workers were seen as “stupid and phlegmatic,” kind of like oxen. Sadly, some bosses still follow this wrong idea. When your coworkers ask for help, do you give them direct orders or ask …
Navigating Difficult Conversations
Difficult conversations are, well, difficult. I struggled with difficult conversations all my life. In my childhood, conflict was constant. I can’t remember a day that my ears didn’t ring because my parents were yelling at each other. When I got older, I became their target. So avoiding tough conversations became …