WHY IS ASKING QUESTIONS SO IMPORTANT?
Last month we talked about employee engagement and why it is so important. But how do you get your employees engaged? What are the techniques and method that are most effective at engaging your employees and bringing out their best?
In this month of our Leadership Journal we will dive into why asking questions is so important. We will discuss how doing this effectively will draw out the best in your employees and will get them more engaged.
Does your organization encourage asking questions? Do you personally ask questions and then carefully listen to the answers? Do you ask questions and not necessarily expect an answer? Do you still ask questions even when you do not have the answers? Or do you not have time for questions and instead just want to take immediate action? What does an organization that encourages asking questions look like? Is that something you desire to have? How do you need to ask questions to get engagement of people’s hearts as well as mind and hands? Is there a right and a wrong way to ask questions?
I hope to show that asking questions is critical to getting effective employee engagement. It is critical to help draw out the best in people and get them excited about coming to work every day and contributing to the success of the organization. It is critical to your success and staying ahead of your competition. It is not the only thing required, but is certainly a key part of achieving great results.
Click here to read our blog about why asking questions is so important.
FEATURED CASE STUDY - VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE
We were asked to work with a non-profit organization that had just undergone a leadership change. The new leaders were working on plotting a new direction and asked us to provide them input and advice.
This was an organization that lost focus on its mission and purpose for being. They had decided to purchase and renovate an office building for their offices and this had diverted financial resources and focus and had bloated their fixed cost. They had not been listening to many of their stakeholders and supporters who did not support this purchase. As a result, their ministry suffered, and donations declined as a number of stakeholders no longer believed in what they were doing. Unfortunately, they were also in a position where, after extensive renovations, the building was not worth what they invested. The previous leader left the organization and the new leadership was overwhelmed by the enormity of the task and looking for advice on how to proceed.
We were able to come in and partner with the new leadership by asking a lot of questions to assess and more fully understand the current situation. With our coaching and mentorship support, the new leadership was able to develop and implement a strategy to get the organization back on track.
The vision and purpose for existing was solid and we encouraged a sharp refocus on fulfilling their vision and purpose. Leadership started meeting with many current and previous donors to apologize for the loss of focus and to draw a new picture of the future that included a refocus on the vision and purpose. The majority of donors were cautiously supportive of the new “future”, but wanted to see actions behind the words. The leaders and board were excited by what was possible, but very concerned about paying off the debt and getting back on stable footing.
While re-engaging with donors; leaders and board members made a decision to move out of the office building and into a space that one of their ministry partners offered. The building was listed and ultimately sold at a significant loss, but higher than anyone expected. A real answer to prayers. Leadership and the board worked with creditors and contractors to negotiate payment agreements letting them know that they fully intended to meet their obligations.
The results, with a continued focus on fulfilling the vision, were heartwarming and dramatic:
- Contractors (over time), wrote off payment obligations and many became ministry supporters.
- 1 year after the building sold, the bank wrote off their debt.
- 1 ½ years after selling the building the organization was debt free. This was something they thought would not be possible for many years.
- As the new picture became the new reality, support and donations began to increase.
- Program participation dramatically increased.
- Bridges were built between needs and providers.
- Lives were touched and connections were strengthened.
- Everyone began to have a lot more fun and success is regularly celebrated.
- There are many stories of donors who said they would never give again who came back and are making significant and ongoing contributions. Outpourings of thanks from partners and stakeholders thanking the organization for the impact they are having on people’s lives. Story after story of lives being positively impacted and bridges being built.
We were able to establish a partnership, provide encouragement, and give them tools and advice they needed to establish and bring to life the picture of the future. God blessed their efforts and they put in the hard work to make it happen. We celebrated the successes with them time after time. We are proud of the work we do to develop and equip leaders to build and grow organizations through engagement of those we touch. And celebrating with them in their success.
