This is part 2 of a 4 part series on "4 Reasons Asking Questions Is Better
Than A Dictatorship."
Than A Dictatorship."
I used to think that my
talent for quick decision making is what made me a great leader. It may make
for a great, quick decision, but it doesn’t create a unified team.
Creating alignment with
your team is how you take any committee, group, or mix of people and turn them
into an unstoppable, unified force.
How, then, do you get
there? Well, first you have to understand the decision making process.
IT CAN TAKE UP TO 15 STEPS TO MAKE A DECISION OR SOLVE A PUZZLE
The way that our brains
are wired, it can take up to 15 or more steps to come to a logical solution or
to comprehend a new complex concept. In other words, it takes time for each of us
to reach a conclusion to a problem or puzzle. That’s 100% normal.
Some of us who are able to skip steps here and there. After years of talking to clients, I’ve discovered that skipping steps to reach a solution is common place for me. Often the solution seems very clear and obvious to me and feel it should be easy for others to see as well. That’s usually not the case. Others my need more context, logic, or basic history. Providing that information is critical to leadership.
Many of us reach a
conclusion or solution in our own way. When we are required to complete a task
without full context we aren’t as invested in implementing it. Think about it.
If the issue is weight loss and I tell you to watch what you eat and exercise,
you’re not going to like me very much. You may also ignore my solutions. On the
other hand, if you create your own plan you are usually 100% dedicated and
absolutely nothing will be able to stop you!
GREAT TEAM LEADERS GUIDE OTHERS THROUGH THE STEPS TO THE ANSWERS
Given this fact, when a
team or committee is tasked with solving an issue, each member has to have time
to go through their steps to reach a conclusion. In order to effectively lead,
I’ve had to transition from presenting the solution to providing more context
so my team can reach a solution themselves. It requires a lot of patience,
well-timed questions, and gentle nudges and it is possible!
Now that the entire team
has an answer, it’s time to turn them into an unstoppable force.
UNDERSTANDING AND AGREE: THE FOUR MAGIC QUESTIONS
For a team of five
people, you may have anywhere between 1 and 5 solutions to your problem. By
utilizing the Understand and Agree method (I usually call it U&A), we’re
able to whittle that down to a single, unified strategy.
And the four questions
in the U&A are these:
- What do you understand?
- What do you not understand?
- What do you agree with?
- What do you disagree with?
By using those four
magic questions and the 15 step process together, we reach a consensus. And, because
everyone’s worked through the entire process together, we’re each committed and
fully invested in both the solution and in our team.
As the team lead, then,
it’s not my job to dictate or present the solution. It’s my job to effectively
communicate with my team and my clients. Once I do that, everything else will
fall into place.
Thoughts? Questions? Comment below and let us know what you think! We'd love to hear
your insights.
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