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Recently, E-Tips has been focusing on the power of questions to build relationships and to engage employees in performance conversations. This month we offer a very subtle but powerful trick for expanding the possibilities of your conversations. Here's the trick:
Use plural nouns to open or extend the other person's perspective.
I don't want to get all "English teacher" on you (that's my husband Steve's job). Still, an awareness of the words you choose will allow you to have a greater impact on the conversations you initiate with employees. You use nouns in all of your open-ended questions anyway. That's how our language works. Now, when you ask for input ask for more than one response. Here are some examples of useful plural nouns:
• Goals rather than goal
• Options rather than option
• Perspectives rather than perspective
• Ideas rather than idea
• Alternatives rather than alternative
What does this look like in a sentence?
What options have you considered to meet the customer's needs?
rather than
What option have you considered to meet the customer's need?
What perspectives can you share about the project?
rather than
What is your perspective about the project?
What ideas do you have for solving the problem?
rather than
What idea do you have for solving the problem?
Plural nouns encourage the employee to consider multiple options and convey your openness to unique approaches. The singular nouns in these examples (option, perspective, idea) limit the response you will receive and do not encourage the employee to participate in the resolution of the issue. Simple, huh?
This month, try to consciously ask more open-ended, option-filled questions and see what you get. Let me know how it goes. Next month we'll talk about how to avoid the "off the wall" or unreasonable answers you may get.
About the author
Author: Marnie E. Green, Chandler, Arizona, USA
Marnie E. Green is Principal Consultant of the Chandler, AZ-based Management Education Group, Inc, Arizona. She is the author of Painless Performance Evaluations: A Practical Approach to Managing Day to Day Employee Performance, published by Prentice Hall. The book has been honored with a Glyph Award for Best Business/Career Book and was a finalist in the management category of the Best Books USA Awards. Green is a speaker, author, and consultant who helps organizations optimize their talent pool. For more information about Green visit www.managementeducationgroup.com
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