A question to get back on the rails

If this is your first time in Curly Question of the Week, its promise is simple. "One question, once a week". It’s the cognitive kick-starter that takes only five seconds to read but is packed with endless possibilities. So, to ensure you never miss out, make sure that you SUBSCRIBE!

So let's kick of the week with this week's question!

Have you ever had a business-critical plan 'go off-the-rails' and turn a relatively cohesive team into a collection of independent well intentioned, problem-solvers?

I have.

Or, have you ever had the same event affect a less cohesive team and then watched helplessly as people stepped back, pointed fingers and played the blame game.

I've had that happen too.

A plan can be a great communication tool to keep people working in the same direction and working collaboratively. However, it is highly dependent on assumptions being accurate and expectations being consistent with reality. It also depends on everything outside the plan, remaining static.

When a plan is disrupted, both assumptions and expectations are called into question. This effect is amplified when the disruption is big enough to land us in 'the complete unknown'. In other words, where we no longer know what assumptions to use or what expectations to have.

It's in these situations, we need an alternative tool to help us find a way forward.

That tool, is the humble question.

Questions hold the keys to cognitive alignment and collaboration, especially in disrupted environments. Unlike plans, they don't depend on assumptions or expectations and thrive within a dynamic environment.

This week's Curly Question offers an excellent example.

In chaotic situations, this question will help you create shared focus and reduce irrelevant noise. Most importantly, it will enable your team to collectively hone in on the real challenge for right now and create time to collaboratively develop a new path forward.

If you love this week's question, why not give it a thumbs up or share it?

Already taken this week’s question for a test-drive? When did you ask it? How did it influence your conversation? Why not inspire others by sharing your experiences in the comments below.

Learn more at www.katechristiansen.com.au

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