I had a great conversation last week with Jack McQueeney at the Glen Eyrie Group. One of the things Jack has learned over the years is to ask the right questions, particularly if you’re in a position of leadership. His longtime friend and mentor Lorne Sanny (former international president of the Navigators) developed four questions that seem ideal for starting a conversation with your boss, whether he or she is a supervisor at your camp or conference center, or the chairman of your board. Here they are:
1. What do you want me to do?
2. Will you let me do it?
3. Will you help me when I need it?
4. Will you tell me how I’m doing?
Perhaps the one that most risks offending a boss is No. 2: “Will you let me do it?” It could be interpreted as, “Will you stay out of my way and not meddle while I’m doing my job?” To me, the key is the relationship we have with our bosses (or boards) as to whether they’ll be offended or not. You may have some work to do to open the dialogue and keep it frank. Start today.
What other questions come to mind for you?