Do this throughout the day for one day. We predict you’ll see dramatic results. Periodically, IGC will post additional leadership challenges just like this. Let us know what you think!
When in conversation…
Step 1: Challenge yourself to say to the other person, What else? In other words, fight the urge to immediately make a decision or form an opinion. Find out what else is relevant. What else have we not considered? What else could we try?
Step 2: Listen to the answer. You may be surprised to find yourself asking a few more What else? questions, until you feel satisfied with what you both have uncovered.
Typical interaction in a busy workplace (10 seconds):
Jane-Ann: How is the talent search going?
Tariq: Great. We’ve got three strong candidates. We’ll move to face-to-face interviews next week.
Jane-Ann: Sounds good. Keep me posted.
What if Jane-Ann had asked What else? (1 minute):
Jane-Ann: How is the talent search going?
Tariq: Great. We’ve got three strong candidates. We’ll move to face-to-face interviews next week.
Jane-Ann: Sounds good. What else?
Tariq: What else? Well, I was surprised at how quickly we got to this point. Our new HR partner is really talented when it comes to recruiting.
Jane-Ann: Good to hear, our team has needed that skill set. What else?
Tariq: I’m not sure… but as we created the candidate’s job description, we realized that our own responsibilities have shifted pretty significantly from our current JDs. For instance, Anya in Marketing keeps thinking we are responsible for contacting her about vendor relations, which we stopped doing at the beginning of the year.
Jane-Ann: That sounds like it wastes everyone’s time.
Tariq: It does! OK, I’ll walk over to Anya’s and chat with her about vendor relations. Maybe I’ll send her a copy of the new JD, too.
Jane-Ann: Great idea. This also makes me wonder in what other ways our JDs are obsolete. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
In a 1-minute conversation (go ahead and time it yourself!) Jane-Ann was rewarded with a number of helpful pieces of information, all because she fought the urge to assume she knew all she needed to know.
Jane-Ann used to feel pressured and rushed and always kept her conversations short. Now she is learning that asking What else? is a great way to efficiently, quickly, uncover hidden gems of knowledge without slowing her down.
Effective leadership action requires us to be informed, but it’s impossible for anyone to be on top of all things at all times. Ask, What else? Make this a habit.
Embrace Your Barriers: Imagine all the things that hold you back from asking What else? What if the other person won’t stop talking? What if this turns into more work for me? Ask, What else? and see. We predict it will be worth it.
Caitlin McClure is a Senior Consultant at Impact Americas.