Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

People judge how smart you are by the questions you ask. That was the assertion of an executive coach I heard at a recent event. I've heard this before, so I started thinking, How do you ask smart questions?

I prompted co-workers and friends for suggestions. I looked through business books. I Googled. I even posted a question on Twitter. I eventually distilled all the answers into six tips:

Do your homework. Before you start asking anything, get as much information as you can in advance. Your questions will be better informed. (I imagine this is how you ask questions that make you look smart.) Plus, if you build your questions from a base of information, you'll come away with more knowledge in the end.

Ask follow-up questions. Even the simplest question 'Why?' can turn deeper insights. Asking for elaboration on an answer, 'Can you say more about that?' provides more clarity and demonstrates that you're listening.

Go to the source. Make sure to ask the right person for the right answer. Knowing who to ask is just as important as knowing what to ask.

Get different perspectives. Most problems are like an elephant. The answer changes depending on your view. While it is important to go straight to the source, it's also helpful to get different points-of-view.

Envision your end state. Before you ask questions, have a clear objective. Frame your focus questions around getting answers that will help you accomplish this goal. You can also use questions to help others envision your goal, What would it take to accomplish this?

Know when enough is enough. There comes a time when you have to go with the information you have. Even the most patient people will tire of questions. Know how to read the signs: fidgeting, a glance at the watch or a click on the Blackberry, and move on.

 

These six tips are just the start. In the spirit of the topic, I'll end this post with a question: Know any good suggestions for asking smart questions?

Feeling a little overwhelmed with the start of the new year?

Below, I’ve summarized some best practices for time management, brought to you courtesy of an engaging lecture by David Wanetick, Managing Director at IncreMental Advantage, at the last Triangle AMA gathering.

1.  Take a few minutes each night to determine your goals for the next work day.

• Determine and prioritize your goals before you step foot in the office and get hit with inevitable, unplanned chaos.

2.  Do not multi-task.  

• Eliminating all instances of multi-tasking in agency life seems to be an unrealistic goal.  I believe the ability to multi-task to a certain extent is essential to balancing multiple project deadlines.  However, if you make a true effort to focus all your energy on one task at a time, you’ll likely produce work of higher quality than if your mental energy is processing multiple tasks at once.  

3.  Make your meetings more efficient.  

• Send out agendas 48 hours in advance.
• Calculate the cost for each minute spent in the meeting. - If time is being spent in an unproductive manner, you can quickly calculate exactly how much budget was spent on that side story about your in-law’s snoring problem.
• Make everyone stand. – I found this tip very interesting.  Think about it, if everyone’s standing, it’s less likely that attendees will launch into discussion of their dog's latest allergy.
• Meet for breakfast – There’s less risk of cancellation in the morning, everyone is more alert, the menu is simple and thus less expensive, and attendees save time on the commute.