Asking why will get the problem solved faster, in the short term. However, the problem and similar problems will come back to you, because you solved them. Asking ‘when’ will create progress with the team member and you; leading to learning.
Stopping what is not working is one of the best ways to construct change and progress within a company.
Organization development and executive coaching works best as a client-centered approach. Working together, respecting each party is knowledgeable about the goals, resources, progress-steps, and what works to make progress towards the goal.
Your best project manager comes to you to help with personality clashes. They share how strong personalities are getting in the way of work, and asks for your advice on how to fix this dysfunctional team. Rather than asking why – which will move the work onto your plate – ask a series of ‘how’ coaching questions.
Leadership is finding what works to increase and what does not work to decrease, you are the expert.
My solution will not work for you, and when you choose to do something different, then you are a leader.
Asking why may create a belief that the problem will be solved faster, and it may. It will be resolved faster because you are taking the accountability and authority away from the person who came to you for support. Asking a series of ‘what’ will help the progress of the person, team and you.
Recently someone told me that my role as a consultant is to motivate them to change. That by sharing research data, internal project completion data, and how the structure of their current organization is causing dysfunction they now feel demotivated.
The team shared with me that those three simple questions have made the most impact on their team meetings.
Would people prefer to have silent sheep that stab them in the back? Would people prefer to keep their heads in the sand with their asses in the air, like the ostrich?
In class discussions, coaching teams and feedback teams the leaders challenged each other and themselves to put their leadership differences to work in a way that matters to others and themselves.