Comments on: How to Ask Engaging Questions http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/ Simon Taylor - Making Innovation Work Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: If Your Blog Is REALLY Your Home, Then: – scottgould.me http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-75 If Your Blog Is REALLY Your Home, Then: – scottgould.me Thu, 06 May 2010 13:18:49 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-75 [...] Being a good host is about drawing conversation out of people – for help with this, read Sy Taylor’s view and Robin Dickinsons’s [...] [...] Being a good host is about drawing conversation out of people – for help with this, read Sy Taylor’s view and Robin Dickinsons’s [...]

]]> By: sytaylor http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-72 sytaylor Tue, 04 May 2010 23:17:31 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-72 It's my belief that we were not alone in our initial run-in with the "law". <br><br>You can tell a good company, and a good manager by how they react to a challenge. A glint in the eye followed by a "Ok, so how would that work?", and you're on to a winner. It's my belief that we were not alone in our initial run-in with the “law”.

You can tell a good company, and a good manager by how they react to a challenge. A glint in the eye followed by a “Ok, so how would that work?”, and you're on to a winner.

]]> By: Scott Gould http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Scott Gould Tue, 04 May 2010 21:21:11 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-71 Great stuff Sy - nothing to add, but have retweeted as it's very valuable info you have here! Great stuff Sy – nothing to add, but have retweeted as it's very valuable info you have here!

]]> By: annholman http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-70 annholman Tue, 04 May 2010 20:41:55 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-70 Agree Sy, it was knocked out of me too. Then I was fortunate to work for a manager in Leeds for three years who didn't just encourage me to challenge but actually demanded it. Shock to the system though it was, I would say it was one of the best times in my career because of that. <br><br>You make a good point, I can't remember being taught to ask great questions other than the which, why, where, how and what? Which seem a little rudimentary these days. Great having a conversation with you though! :)<br><br>Lets keep it going! Agree Sy, it was knocked out of me too. Then I was fortunate to work for a manager in Leeds for three years who didn't just encourage me to challenge but actually demanded it. Shock to the system though it was, I would say it was one of the best times in my career because of that.

You make a good point, I can't remember being taught to ask great questions other than the which, why, where, how and what? Which seem a little rudimentary these days. Great having a conversation with you though! :)

Lets keep it going!

]]> By: sytaylor http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-69 sytaylor Tue, 04 May 2010 19:53:37 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-69 Ann, not sure about your experience, but earlier on in my career the natural urge to challenge was beaten out of me. The new guy 'asking awkward questions' using the corporate Intranet was tough for my line management to handle. The result was they asked me to "Stop asking questions" and "Pick your battles".<br><br>My questions weren't always constructive or useful, but it would have saved a lot of time if they had simply taught me how to ask questions in a useful way. There is a danger in a lot of workplaces still, sadly that comes from speaking out. Learning who to ask takes some skill, and is a subject in itself... although it's probably 9/10ths instinct. Ann, not sure about your experience, but earlier on in my career the natural urge to challenge was beaten out of me. The new guy 'asking awkward questions' using the corporate Intranet was tough for my line management to handle. The result was they asked me to “Stop asking questions” and “Pick your battles”.

My questions weren't always constructive or useful, but it would have saved a lot of time if they had simply taught me how to ask questions in a useful way. There is a danger in a lot of workplaces still, sadly that comes from speaking out. Learning who to ask takes some skill, and is a subject in itself… although it's probably 9/10ths instinct.

]]> By: annholman http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-68 annholman Tue, 04 May 2010 19:48:56 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-68 Like the fact you've highlighted this! Engaging people in conversation doesn't actually come naturally do us. Well it possibly did when we were kids but then something called work conditioned it out of us.<br><br>I think you are spot on when you say challenge everything. I'd even go further and say we possibly should be asking questions that are disruptive! Nothing more sure than that to get people engaged, as long as its in a supportive environment of course. Another point - why not ask the questions no one has asked before?<br><br>Nice post! Like the fact you've highlighted this! Engaging people in conversation doesn't actually come naturally do us. Well it possibly did when we were kids but then something called work conditioned it out of us.

I think you are spot on when you say challenge everything. I'd even go further and say we possibly should be asking questions that are disruptive! Nothing more sure than that to get people engaged, as long as its in a supportive environment of course. Another point – why not ask the questions no one has asked before?

Nice post!

]]> By: Tweets that mention Do you know how to ask Engaging Questions? -- Topsy.com http://www.sytaylor.net/2010/05/04/how-to-ask-engaging-questions-2/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Tweets that mention Do you know how to ask Engaging Questions? -- Topsy.com Tue, 04 May 2010 14:35:25 +0000 http://www.sytaylor.net/?p=345#comment-67 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Simon Taylor. Simon Taylor said: Do you know how to ask Engaging Questions? http://bit.ly/cVr6ly [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Simon Taylor. Simon Taylor said: Do you know how to ask Engaging Questions? http://bit.ly/cVr6ly [...]

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