To Question is To Question, or is it?
Greetings All!
When you would like someone to do something for you, do you welcome discussion or do you try to assign the task quickly? I've often been disappointed in the way people assign tasks/projects to others.
Example: (at work)
Boss: I need a report of our sales from last month.
Employee: From our store, our web site, or everything?
Boss: Everything.
Employee: Just the total amount or by product?
Boss: Both, of course.
Employee: Do you want it sorted by quantity sold or by sales amount?
Boss: Why do you have to argue? Just give me what I want!
Employee: Whatever.... (I wasn't arguing, btw)
There's a communication trap with asking questions. If you want a certain result, you will need to discuss what the result should look like, don't you? ... But if you ask too many questions; if you try to determine the specific result being asked for, this can make the person assigning the task to you uncomfortable (as they likely haven't thought it through themselves so can't answer many of the questions).
Some people complain often. When I expect complaints, I ask lots of questions before doing my work ... and I get complaints about asking too many questions.
How do you ask enough questions to have confidence that you understand what is needed without making the other person feel you are questioning their competence and intelligence?
Questions can trigger defensiveness... not asking them can lead to complaints... so it's a lose - lose situation. You can't win... but you can do nothing... sometimes I feel that's the best answer.
Your advice is welcome.
Comments (25)
What was the question again.......
I would choose the less evil. The less evil is the boss to be annoyed by questions but content after seeing the results than vice versa. Also, it would save me the effort to do the task again because of misunderstanding.
I like to have things clear so I prefer to ask as many questions as I need to make it clear so I can do the task in the proper way. I would advice you to take the task and ask for a little time for a first glance on it. Then you go in your office and figure out every problem or question that you have and formulate them in the SHORTEST AND LESS HARMFUL (for the boss' ego) way. And with the hint that a further dialogue (questions) are possible, all in purpose to do it in the best way
It seems that you might agree with the "do nothing" option anyways.
I read Ed's comment on Calli's blog ... Hotlips was it? ... made me smile ... And knowing Ed well enough, we know it was said with a wink and with affection.
It seems you know the challenge I'm talking about. As you might guess, I'm in agreement with you... better to annoy them with questions than to waste effort working towards the wrong result.
I have learned to ask higher-level questions... Are they looking for facts to support a decision? Are they just curious? Are they preparing for a meeting?
My current boss is patient but often doesn't know what he's really looking for... I've learned to think of many of his assignments this way... "I have an idea... help me figure out if it's a good one."
I used a work-place example but I dealt with it just as much during marriage.
There's a time when the boss believes their effort is over... they are just waiting for the results. Many want their effort to be over as soon as possible but don't see how that affects the results.
One tactic I've used is to ask if they'll be available in an hour ... I'll write some notes and will do some preliminary research (which may only take 5 minutes... but I allow more time in case it's needed) ... then I'll go back to the boss with a more educated outlook and a simple plan... "This is what I believe you're looking for... did I understand you correctly?" ...
This works great with someone who is patient... and it allows me to succeed. I've worked with impatient people too... it's almost like they just want to assign the task to me just so they can blame someone for it! ... This is what has taught me to ask lots of questions... It also discourages this type of person from assigning me things when they don't know what they are looking for.
I'm always trying to find better ways though... Thanks again for your advice.
Well in the case with your boss I just think he uses you, more or less consciously, to elaborate his ideas for him. I think in this case your willing to elaborate things by questions showed him how easy and comfortable it is if he just "throws" the idea and you do all the hard work. Therefore, I advice you not to ask too many questions, but knowing your boss well enough, to do it the way you know will be the best for him and for you too (don't overwork for people whose knowledge on the matter is obviously less than yours...)
Parti - So it seems that you'd change the subject.
Perhaps the assignment would be forgotten when the new paperweight lands in his inbox!
The impatient ones... They d better explain the task well enough if they don't want too many questions... And people who are annoyed by questions, very often don't actually know the matter well.
And a wink... You're right, of course... it's my nature to be curious (so I dig deeper on a topic than I have to) ... and to be thorough and accurate. Learning (or being able to deduce) that the result doesn't need to be thorough (or precise) can save lots of time/effort.
This makes me wonder... I like to think I'm patient and thorough when I assign a task to someone... but I have to doubt myself at times... communication can be so challenging
Some people... when receiving a task... are ready to take off running to complete it (often in the wrong direction) before my first sentence is completed (at least it feels this way).
Perhaps this is just part of the broader question of personality and thinking alike (in a similar way).
(3 am now ... going to try to get some sleep
There is a third option... some people know the matter, but can't express their thought properly. Purely linguistic/communication case. Very often irresolvable.
Given a task with little or no explanation. I got the impression her boss had been handed task by superiors - did not fully understand himself......and just passed it on.
In your case I would have asked when results were needed by and based work on that.
z
Parti - How about the universal solvent? Pour a bucket of water on them... might not resolve anything but would likely change the topic of conversation (much like your last suggestion
Hey Z -
I often need to discover the level of patience they are willing to extend... tricky/challenging at times.
My current boss is fairly good actually. There are many things he doesn't understand (hasn't experienced as much as I have) ... but he's patient (most of the time).
The example in the blog is just something I made up to explain the concern I have ...
I don't like to make mistakes and don't like to waste time/effort... so figuring out how to handle tasks well is important to me... working with others (at home as well) requires some skill...