“I’ve got a problem!”
What’s your initial reaction to hearing that?
“Haven’t we all!”
“What do you need?”
“Let me help?”
“Again!?….”
I hold my hands up: I have an inbuilt desire to help others!
I’ve learned over the years the best way to help isn’t about diving in and ‘fixing’ things. The truth is that the person you’re talking to will have a better sense of their own situation than you, they’ll have great insights to barriers, and what’s worked before.
When people have ‘told’ me what I need to do to solve something, quite often it hasn’t been the solution I needed, and I’ve either thanked them and then not followed through with the action, or stopped asking that person for their input! I mean, does anyone really want telling what to do?
The people I seek out in work are people who listen, who give me time to think, who will challenge my thinking, help me consider alternative perspectives – and approach all of this with curiosity. We naturally seek new information and experiences, and are keen to explore alternative possibilities.
So instead of rushing in with your answer, why not try saying:
“Tell me more…”
“What’s happening?”
Curiosity at work is a super power. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about asking the right questions. Connecting with what really matters to people:
- Their values
- Things they like to do
- Things they are good at
Would you be able to answer these for yourself?
Make a habit of asking questions – why not start today?
Let us know how it goes, we’ll be curious to hear how you get on!