Jack Mencini’s HOW QUESTION of the week on Dirty Secrets of Small Business is: How come most people don’t ask a lot of questions and seem to settle for what they know already?
Maybe they are too tired to ask more questions or they are afraid to appear they don’t know everything or just aren’t curious.
When two people are talking for an hour and talking to each other, there is a net gain of useful information totaling around 1%. People nod their head and go with the flow rather than getting clarity.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a conversation and interaction where both individuals are engaged and asking questions for clarification and greater knowledge building?
Jack Mencini and Adam Sonnhalter are small business coaches for Maximum Value Partners www.maximumvp.com advocate that there is a give and take to listen and then to ask questions. Pause and ask for a review of what was said for greater understanding and clarity.
People want to inform and give their opinions… listening is powerful, but giving info back and forth is very valuable. There has to be a balance between active listening and active conversation to ask questions and make it more valuable and beneficial to both parties.
To stop and say: I don’t understand what you just talked about. Can you explain again? This is difficult to do, but can be so beneficial in being able to learn and engage the individual with well-thought out and respectful question asking.
If you have a question for Jack or Adam, call into the show every Monday at noon (EST) at 440-946-9468 or email them anytime at radio@maximumvp.com