Guesswork?

October 9, 2014
If you’re a contestant in a game show, guesswork might be acceptable.  After all, part of the objective of the TV producers is to prey upon surprise, disappointment and occasionally exuberance.  Since the outcome is simply a matter of chance, who can possibly be responsible for what happens?
When it comes to the world of business, however, guesswork is the fast track to Big Trouble.  Consider what happens with guesswork when it comes to:
Picture

  • Safety – which results in injury, or much worse;
  • Purpose – resulting in confusion and wasted motion;
  • Finance – that lands a business in bankruptcy;
  • Sales – when the result is none (or at least of the type you want!);
  • Customers – which ends up in lost business and ended relationships;
  • Employees – leading to disengagement and frustration.

The alternative to guesswork is engagement and active listening.  In other words, all you need to do is Ask!  When you take the time to ask great questions and then intently listen to the answers, business disaster in most forms can be avoided.  More importantly, doing so paves the path to lasting success.
While great communication skills come with practice, the fantastic thing is that you don’t need to be an “expert” to participate.  You simply need to care and approach every situation with positive intent.  What’s on your mind?  Go ahead, ask and see what happens.

Enjoy the Journey!

One Comment

  • Bill, you are on to something. We always teach follow the process. That process begins with listening and followed by asking well thought out questions. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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