Table of Contents
Introduction: Questioning Is the Skill of Management
1. Is There a Basic Set of Management Questions?
2. Asking Questions Is the Skill of Effective Management
Common Errors: How to Recognize and Correct Them
5. What Are the Common Errors?
6. Do You Have Habit Questions?
7. Does Your Question Lack Context?
8. Do You Put the Answer in the Question?
9. Positioning: “Just a Country Lawyer...”
10. Posturing: When the Questioner Suddenly Becomes Larger
13. Avoidance: If I Close My Eyes, Will the Elephant in the Room Disappear?
14. No Question: Managing by “Wall”
15. If I Ask a Foolish Question, I’ll Look Foolish
16. Unasked Questions: If You Already Know the Answer, It Is Unnecessary to Ask the Question
17. Someone Else (of Higher Authority or Greater Experience) Will Ask
18. Saved Questions: I Will Save My Question for Another More Appropriate Time
19. My Question Will Make Waves and Making Waves Is Bad
Misuses of Management Skills: Inquisitions Are Not the Only Abuse of Questioning
21. Errors and the Misuse of Management Skills
22. Is Your Question an Abuse of Power?
23. Are There Questions That Should Not Be Asked?
Questioning: Improve Your Skills
24. What Are the Attributes of a Person Who Asks Good Questions?
26. What’s the Purpose of Your Question?
27. Words: Are Some Words More Important Than Others?
28. What Are the “Right” Questions?
29. Is Everything We Ask Important?
30. The Manner of Asking a Question: Style
32. Can You Use a Raised Voice?
33. What Is Your Personal Style for Asking Questions?
34. Who Is Asking the Question?
36. Hand Gestures and Other Physical Signals
38. Demeanor, Body Language, and Facial Expressions
46. Hypothetical Questions (If, What If, Suppose)
62. Dual-Answer Closed Questions
63. General Reference Questions to Keep Handy
68. Does the Manager Need to Control the Conversation?
69. Strategies for Asking Tough Questions
72. Are You Prepared for Any Answer? What About a Surprise?
73. The Use of Leading Questions
75. Are You Asking for an Opinion?
76. How Do You Evaluate New Ideas?
78. Strategies for the Setting
79. Are You Prepared for Answers?
80. Are You Prepared for Nonanswers?
81. Have You Asked About the Fatal Flaw?
82. Listening: The “Hearing Phenomenon”
83. What Are You Listening For?
86. Conclusions and Final Recommendations
Questioning as a Spectator Sport: Where to Go to Watch and Learn the Game