How To Ask Better Questions To Increase Your Insight & Impact With Your Leader

02/19/24 • 26 min

It's a solo episode from Liz. All about improving how we ask questions, especially when it comes to asking questions of the person or people we support.

This month, we're focusing on enhancing our skills in managing up and engaging effectively with leaders. It's what I describe as the 'Leader Insight & Impact Zone'.

Why Questions Matter

Asking the right questions is crucial for understanding and growth. Many of us hesitate to ask questions due to fear of looking incompetent or being annoying, but it's essential to overcome these fears.

Key Insights

Reconnect with Curiosity: Let's embrace our natural curiosity and not be afraid to ask questions.

Types of Questions: I discuss four main types: elevating, funneling, adjoining, and clarifying questions. Each serves a different purpose in helping us understand and connect better.

Practical Tips: Use open-ended questions, balance them with closed questions when needed, appreciate the power of silence, and practice active listening.

Highlights

The Importance of Questions: They help unlock new knowledge and increase understanding.

Overcoming Fear: I encourage everyone to see questioning as an opportunity for learning, not something to be scared of.

Resources

Episode 48: How To Interview Your Boss To Clarify Expectations & Perceptions

Conclusion

Asking questions is a skill that can greatly improve our interactions and our work. It shows curiosity, vulnerability, and can lead to better outcomes.

Connect With Me: - Share your thoughts and takeaways from this episode on our social media platforms. - Join our community of Lovely Loyal Listeners (LLLs) by hitting follow/subscribe and be part of our journey in 2024!

Thank you for joining us on Assist With Impact.

It's a solo episode from Liz. All about improving how we ask questions, especially when it comes to asking questions of the person or people we support.

This month, we're focusing on enhancing our skills in managing up and engaging effectively with leaders. It's what I describe as the 'Leader Insight & Impact Zone'.

Why Questions Matter

Key Insights

Reconnect with Curiosity: Let's embrace our natural curiosity and not be afraid to ask questions.

Types of Questions: I discuss four main types: elevating, funneling, adjoining, and clarifying questions. Each serves a different purpose in helping us understand and connect better.

Practical Tips: Use open-ended questions, balance them with closed questions when needed, appreciate the power of silence, and practice active listening.

Highlights

The Importance of Questions: They help unlock new knowledge and increase understanding.

Overcoming Fear: I encourage everyone to see questioning as an opportunity for learning, not something to be scared of.

Resources

Episode 48: How To Interview Your Boss To Clarify Expectations & Perceptions

Conclusion

Asking questions is a skill that can greatly improve our interactions and our work. It shows curiosity, vulnerability, and can lead to better outcomes.

Thank you for joining us on Assist With Impact.

Previous Episode

Managing Up: Navigating the Labyrinth of Boss Personalities

🎙 Navigating the Labyrinth of Boss Personalities🎙

In this enlightening episode, dive deep into the complexities of workplace dynamics as we explore how to effectively manage up by understanding and adapting to different boss personalities. From the reflective introverts and the communicative extroverts to the goal-driven advancers, the team-focused harmonizers, and the detail-oriented micromanagers, we unveil strategies for building stronger and more productive relationships with your boss.

What You'll Learn: - The distinct differences between introverted (Innies) and extroverted (Outies) bosses and how to communicate effectively with each. - Insights into the personalities of Harmonizers, who value team cohesion, and Advancers, who are all about achieving results, plus tips on how to align your approach for better workplace harmony. - Practical advice for dealing with micromanaging bosses, including how to build trust and keep them informed to minimize over-scrutiny.

Why Listen: Whether you're seeking to improve your relationship with your boss, understand their expectations better, or simply navigate the complexities of various managerial styles, this episode is packed with valuable advice and actionable strategies. Tune in to transform your approach to workplace interactions and pave the way for a more fulfilling professional environment.

Additional Resources: - Linsten to Episode 57 for more insights on managing expectations and clarifying perceptions with your boss.

Connect With Us: - Share your thoughts and takeaways from this episode on our social media platforms. - Join our community of Lovely Loyal Listeners (LLLs) by hitting follow/subscribe and be part of our journey in 2024!

Thank you for joining us on Assist With Impact.

Next Episode

The Ten Things To Avoid Doing In Your Conversations

The focus of this solo episode is your verbal communication skills and common blocks that get in the way of you being a confident and capable communicator.

This episode is part of our theme for March. It’s the ‘Power Skills’ impact and insight zone. Power Skills are your supercharged soft skills and in my world, there are ten key Power Skills that I focus on in my training, coaching and speaking.

In this episode I’m sharing the Top 10 Communication Blocks that can impact your relationships with your peers, your manager and other people you work with.

I remind you of the practical tips and strategies I’ve shared before. Listen to the following episode for more info on this topic

#55 How To Approach Difficult Conversations - Steps for Executive Assistants

You can find more information on the SBI framework here:

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/situation-behavior-impact-feedback.htm

You can read more about Petrea King's approach here:

https://www.flyingsolo.com.au/live-smarter/make-difficult-conversations-easier

Connect With Me: - Share your thoughts and takeaways from this episode on our social media platforms. You can find The Linchpin Assistant on Instagram and LinkedIn. - Join our community of Lovely Loyal Listeners (LLLs) by hitting follow/subscribe (and make my day by leaving a review).

Thank you for joining us on Assist With Impact.