Leading with Questions 4 Session Webinar starts August 17th

Take the Extreme Question Challenge

It can be tempting for a leader, especially a smart one, to provide his or her team with all of the answers. However, a smarter leader knows that allowing her team to contribute ideas is not only good for the team, but makes for better results. To counter your tendency to do all of the talking, pick a meeting or conversation and commit to leading it by asking questions. Start by presenting a query that will spark discussion. Ask clarifying questions to dig deeper and better understand the ideas. Then use questions to determine next steps. It may be difficult to avoid chiming in with a statement or suggestion, but holding your tongue ensures that others will use theirs.

Are You Asking the Right Questions?

Asking questions can be a subtle and effective management tool. But dishing out difficult and harsh question after question to your employees may make them hide information for fear of not having the right answer or keep bad news from their bosses — a communications recipe for disaster. If you are creating fear you aren't getting the best from your employees.

Questions can elicit information, of course, but they can do much more. Astute leaders use questions to encourage full participation and teamwork, to spur innovation and outside-the-box thinking, to empower others, to build relationships with customers to solve problems and much more.

Do you have a learning organization?

There is almost a direct correlation between the number and quality of questions and the eventual quality of the final actions and learnings. Balancing the number of questions and the number of statements leads to dialogue, which is a proper balance between advocating and inquiring. This balance provides value by forcing everyone to think about asking questions, about inquiring rather than making statements and advocating positions. Questions tend to unite; statements can cause divisions. An environment in which questions are valued requires people to listen to each other. Questions prevent domination by a single persona and instead create cohesion.

LEADING WITH QUESTIONS WEBINAR INVITATION

You are invited to attend a four-session webinar series called Leading with Questions presented by executive coach and organizational development specialist Carl Nielson.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why leaders often prefer to provide answers rather than ask questions and how limiting - and disastrous - that can be.
  
• Why questioning is actually the ultimate leadership tool.
  
• The benefits for leaders and organizations of creating a question-friendly organizational culture.
  
• How to ask questions effectively.
  
• Stumbling blocks to using questions effectively and how to overcome them.
  
• The empowerment of effective questions and the disempowering effect of ineffective questions.
  
• Types of questions and the roots of great questions.
  
• How your attitude, mindset, pace and timing all affect the impact of asking questions.
  
• How to use questions to manage staff, strengthen relationships with direct reports, helping them to grow and encouraging action and innovative thinking.
  
• How to use questions for orienting staff, setting goals and objectives, conducting performance appraisals, and leading staff meetings.
  
• How to use questions to improve team performance, energize team meetings, solve problems, help teams overcome obstacles and resolve conflict.
  
• How to strengthen the entire organization, sharpening strategy, vision and values and building the capacity for change - focusing on questions with both internal and external stakeholder groups.
  
  DURATION:
  
• 4 Sessions x 90 minutes each
  
  WHEN:
  
• 7:30am to 9:00am Central Time
  
• Tuesday, August 17th, 24th, 31st and Sept 7th
  
  WHERE AND HOW:
  
• Best-in-class Webinar technology from the comfort of your office
  
• High quality telephony technology*
  
• Simple browser-based presenter screen sharing
  
• Interactive group breakouts with other participants (you'll learn from each other, you'll practice techniques with each other)
  The bottom line: You're receiving the quality and interactive content of a traditional executive workshop without leaving your office.
  *No guarantee if using cell phone
  
  BONUS:
  
• 68-page Personal Leadership Talent Assessment Report per registration (one per registration)
  
• A $450 value
  
• We'll review the report in Session Three
  
  DISCOUNTs
  
• Two or more registrations at the same time receives 10% discount
  
• Resigster by August 10th and receive 5% discount