Motivational Management: Inspiring Your People for Maximum Performance

Remember to Ask Lots of Questions

We reviewed the use of open questions rather than closed ones, a technique that makes questions more inviting of participation. But sometimes managers fail to ask any questions, even closed ones. It is helpful to make an effort to convert statements into questions whenever you can. For instance, imagine you are a manager who is preparing to assign several employees to different roles in a team project. You may have a clear idea of who is best qualified for each role, so the natural thing to do is to simply tell them what you want them to do. Instead, you could ask them what roles they think each person should play. That way, you go from a directive communication to a participative communication, thereby initiating ...