Thought of the day: A Great list of lousy questions Each of us play many different roles in our lives, and each of those roles has its own particular challenges and frustrations. Here is a list of different roles with questions everyone has used or heard before...lousy questions that we might be asking and questions that we could use instead. At work.... Customer Service: When will shipping start getting orders out on time? Why does the customer expect so much? When will the field do it right the first time? Why dont customers follow the instructions? How about asking How can I serve them? instead... Sales: Why are our prices so high? When are we going to be more competitive? Why wont the customer call me back? When will marketing give us better brochures? Why cant manufactoring make what we sell? How about asking What can I do today to be more effective? or How can I add value for my customers? instead... Operations or manufacturing: Why cant the salespeople stay within our capabilities? When will they learn to sell the right specs? How about asking How can I better understand the challenges of the field? instead... Management: Why doesnt the younger generation want to work? When am I going to find good people? Why arent they motivated? Who made the mistake? Why cant people come in on time? How about asking How can I be a more effective coach? or What can I do to better understand each person on the team? instead... Executive: Who dropped the ball? When are they going to catch the vision? Who will care as much as I do? When will the market turn around? How about asking How can I be a better leader? or What can I do to show I care? or How can I communicate better? instead... The Front Line: Why do we have to go through all this change? When is someone going to train me? Why dont I get paid more? Whos going to clarify my job? When is management going to get their act together? Whos going to give us the vision? How about asking What can I do to be more productive? or How can I adapt to the changing environment? or What can I do to develop myself? instead... Marketing: When will the salespeople deliver our programs? Why wont the field learn more about our new products? How about asking What can I do to understand the sales reps frustrations? or How can I learn more about what the customer needs? instead... And from the world outside work..... Parent: When is my child going to lesten to me? Why does she hang out with those kids? When will he open up? Who made the mess in here? Why cant you be more like your sister? How about asking How can I get to know him better? or What can I do to improve my parenting skills? or How can I simply help her get through these tough years? instead... Teenager: When are my parents going to get it? Why dont they like my friends? Why is my teacher so mean and unfair? How about asking How can I show more respect to Mom and Dad? or What can I do to communicate more effectively? or How can I improve my study habits? instead... Spouse/Partner: Why doesnt he let go of that old issue? When will she appreciate me more? Why dont you start exercising? How about asking How can I improve myself today? or What can I do to help her/him out? instead... Neighbor: Why are they so unfriendly? How about asking How can I be a better friend? instead... Volunteer: Why do I have to do everything myself? How about asking What can I do to set better boundaries and just say no? instead... The choice is up to us. The questions we ask can make all the difference in the world.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 05:32:29 +0000