On the TV, I was listening the speech of a young manager, and I almost started crying as a result of his passive and hopeless way of talking about his business problem.
In his description of the current issue/problem, he did not offer a single solution, nor he asks for direct help. From an action plan there was no sign at all. I felt sad and depressed listening to this man.
Shortly his complains were:
…we have no help from the government in order to find cheep steel to make our cheap boilers...
In this way, his discussion was tiredly focussed on what was missing, on the problem, not on the solution. He was telling what they are lacking, without offering a solution for the future.
This is a passive, secondary and often depressive approach to managing life and business in general. This managerial style leads towards lowered organizational energy, minimised productivity, profitability, and creativity…
This kind of management pays very high price. Organisations loose motivation, creativity and action are slow process, often lost completely. Lets not mention the financial losses.
If we observe the process of creativity and action as a hill that we have to climb, with 4 main stages ( GOAL, REALITY, OPTION AND WILL) the above described managerial style stops the (action) movement somewhere at the phase of preparation. (Between Reality and Options in this case). There is no active expression. Imagine what happens with all this unexpressed energy. Where does it go?
If we take the coaching approach and start creating positively focused questions, that will lead us towards the solutions of certain issue, the situation is becoming simple, promotes action and offers concreteness.
What is the benefit if we know the unfavourable reality, and we are not looking for a step forward towards the solution of our problems? Frustration, loss of energy, impatience, powerlessness…
What do I need? This question will determine the primary need. This will then become the current goal.
In this case the primary need could be put in the question:
How could we find and buy quality and cheaper steel?
Follow by:
What have we done so far in order to find the steel we need? (Reality Question, RQ)
What results have we produced in our search for the steel so far? (RQ) What else do we have to do in order to find the steel we need? (Option Q) What are our options in order to find the steel we need? And what else could we do? (OQ)
Who, when and how will be in charge to find the steel we need, and to complete this goal? (Will Q)
Remember: Goal, Reality, Options and Will (action)
Real life Example 2:
On a regular Monday meeting held by the CEO of a Hotel in Macedonia and his 5 key managers.
The topic was how to attract 250 guests for the New Year celebration night? The meeting was taking place 6 days before the celebration.
The hotel is quite established business with 25 years tradition and new young entrepreneurial management in the last 5 years. They are experienced and known as good organisers of such entertainment nights.
So far they have done some small local marketing regarding the NY celebration and had 80 reservations so far.
Their offer was 10-15% higher from the competitors in the area. On the other hand they were uniquely placed in the area (mountain lake resort).
Lily, manager and coordinator in the Hotel, in charge of the marketing for the night, started to tell us why she thinks that the chances to reach the wanted goal are very small.
She mentioned competition, higher prices, short time for preparation etc. As I was listening I felt how her speech is making me tired.
If I didn’t stop her monologue she was going to continue for sure.
Then I said:
- Lily, I can live you to talk about your problems for hours, but we are not going anywhere like this.
I turned and asked the group:
What do we have to do in these 6 days in order to reach our Goal?
3 priorities immediately emerged.
We assigned people to be responsible for implementing each action.
Action was taken and completed the same day. On the NY eve the hotel had over 220 bookings.
Remember: Create goals and solutions, not problems and use focusing questions:
Practical example:
Choose an issue, a problem that you have within your business or life. Write it down on a paper. Now look at your problem and ask your self: What would be the ideal solution to this problem? How do I want it to be ideally? (Goal Question)
The answer on this question will create your current goal. Than continue: What could I do now in order to reach this Goal? (OQ)
What is happening right now? What have I/we done so far in order to reach the current Goal? (RQ)
What else could I do? What else I have to do to reach the Goal? (OQ) What do I get and what do I loose if I don’t do it? (RQ)
When will I take concrete action towards my Goal? (WQ)
Be creative and create motivational, inspirational, empowering questions that will challenge you, stimulate and put you and your team in passionate action driven mood.
This is how your travel towards your short, medium and long-term goals will be much more fun, easy and fulfilling.