Schedule a Chat or Demo

Five Critical Questions for Commitment – Part Two

influence team building Jul 29, 2021

Over the last couple of posts I’ve addressed a topic that all organizations, groups, teams must come to terms with – recognizing the best course of action and getting everyone on the same page.  There is a method to achieving this – it’s what I call The Five Questions.  Previously we addressed the first three:

  1. What’s working well?
  2. What could we do better,differently, or more of?
  3. What is preventing the improvements identified in question number two?

Once you’ve addressed these questions, move on to determining priorities and how to get them done.  The final two questions in the Five Question method are:

  1. If only one change can be made, what should it be? With this question, you show others that you’re willing to understand their highest priority. When you can successfully tackle something that another person (especially a key person) wants, it signals that you’re willing to help. You both will become energized and you can build on the momentum you’ve created. That’s powerful mojo. After all is said and done, this is all about nurturing better relationships. That, in turn, will help you influence more and gain commitment in the future. If you help people address their biggest priorities now, the next time you go knocking on their doors, asking for something,you’ll have a better chance of getting them to say, “yes”!
  1. How can you help? Asking others how they might help initiate change accomplishes three things. First, it opens people’s eyes to the possibility that they themselves might have been a barrier to improvement up until now. Second, it allows you to begin developing a resource inventory based upon group and individual skills, talents, knowledge, ideas, and experiences. Third, it spotlights the necessity of teamwork. Sure, all team members are willing to share their ideas, but they also have to be willing to help. They can’t just lay out all the things they want fixed without the expectation that they are part of both the problem and the solution. You have to work collaboratively to get things done. Question number five hammers home that concept.

These five questions put everything into perspective and will help you and your team members determine the best course of action.  Let us know where you’re going to try the Five Questions.