Circles of Change: Conversations with Dr. Zara Larsen
on Change Leadership and Career Fulfillment
March 9, 2008
“Change Your Questions, Change Your Life”
Guest: Dr. Marilee Adams, Inquiry Institute
Anchoring Points:
- The Questions we ask lead to Decisions which lead to Behaviors and Actions which lead to Results. To change the Results, we thus need to start with changing our Questions.
- We have two mindsets with us at all times – the Learner and the Judger. One is in the foreground, the other in the background waiting to jump out. It is important to put ourselves into a neutral observer mindset, and then consciously choose one over the other to affect outcomes.
· Learner Mindset Questions are thoughtful, accept in an unbiased way, are like those of an inquisitive researcher, are flexible and adaptive, inclusive, built on win-win relationships, encourage dialogue, result in feedback seen as helpful, operate in resolution and innovation-seeking mode.
· Judger Mindset Questions are more problem solving, can easily move to finding blame, discover on the known outcomes and shift into debate and advocate dynamics with win-loose outcomes.
- Question Thinking is an internal question and answer process, where the answers drive our results. So, if we can determine the right questions, we can create the answers we want.
- Most often the questions are far more powerful than the answers; yet, in our hyperactive, impatient, answer-driven culture, we push to go fast and often then miss the opening for real change.
· Every question missed is a crisis waiting to happen.
· Effective communication is about 20% telling and 80% asking.
- Although we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose what we do with what happens. Learners take ownership; Judgers place blame.
- Do you have an awareness and then control of your mindset and questions, or do they have control of you? Who is in charge?
Additional Thoughts from Dr. Zara Larsen:
- It is a rare personal attribute to contribute by asking questions and looking for what connections are missing. Many know how to improve what’s there; few can see what isn’t there and add value then in closing the gap.
- Some might say “Don’t ask the question unless you are ready to deal with the answer”; but, in absence of asking questions, you won’t get to decisions or action or results.
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