Replying to Andrew Finlayson in LO21736
>What are the five most important questions a manager should constantly be
>asking his or her staff to help build a learning organization?
Andrew
I am afraid that I do not have a direct answer to your question. I am a
middle manager who has over the years, developed an "arsenal" of
questions. When I am "on my game", I can select a "weapon of choice" and
"strategically" place it so as to "win" my "desired" response. When not
on my game, I have found it necessary to play the "boss" card and speak
taller than my opponent .
Emerging enlightened from reading a book and attending a seminar,(?), I
found I existed in a newer, kinder and gentler world. I needed to
understand my opponent before verbally assaulting him. "John 'ol buddy --
I truly want to understand why you are such an ass....".
Let me now offer my current experimentation as a data point for
consideration, rather than an answer.
-- I am working on the concept that employees and peers (perhaps even
family members) can have different views that are ALSO "true". This
concept I can intellectually embrace, but when pushed to put this into
real time practice -- well, I have done "command and control" for too long
to easily release and try something different. Limited success with those
I am open to -- others who are "bone-heads".....................
-- At the same time, and of necessity, I am working on listening to that
new viewpoint WITH THE INTENT OF LEARNING something I have never before
listened to. No easy task, as my inner "self" knows it already has the
correct answer -- why bother with this listening stuff?
-- When it is absolutely necessary for a response, I am trying to ask for
that information or knowledge which I do not understand -- or keep silent.
As I am absolutely not skilled at this, this non questioning questioning
is very uncomfortable for all involved.
Postulated conclusions for now:
I should only ask those questions for which I have not already figured out
the correct answer.
If I truly ask questions to enlighten myself as to another's views -- the
correctness of the question probably does not matter. Intent will
correctly frame an incorrect question.
>From the writings of Paula Underwood:
"...We must continue to ask those questions for which we do not
yet understand well enough to remember..."
Andrew --- I would be interested in your views on the "questions" issue.
What was your intent in posing the question to this forum besides those I
assumed?
Bud
<Bud.Maxfield@Prodigy.Net>
--"Bud Maxfield" <BUD.MAXFIELD@prodigy.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>