Ep 138 | Mastering the art of great questions at work with Sandy Sullivan

The posters on the wall. The words on the website. The sizzle real that you share with every prospect.

Are they b******t?

You know who knows? Your team. Take a look next time you reference your mission or your values. How far back into their heads do their eyes roll?

Slick messaging may help land a client or two, but I can guarantee you it's turning more folks off if it doesn't ring true. And if your team ain't feeling it? Good luck delivering work that actually lives up to those lofty promises.

If you're ready to lead like a grown up and live up to your words, it's time to heed the words of Sandy Sullivan and ask better questions. Sandy is an executive coach and co-founder of The Alchemy Group with a low tolerance for BS and a high bar for leaders.

The quality of your questions will directly impact the way your teams perform. And the harsh truth? Most of our questions just kind of suck right now.

The best questions are what Sandy calls "Level 8 Questions." And there are 4 simple ways to know if yours are hitting the mark:

* Use "what" or "how" questions. Never "why." Why not? Because "why" is loaded with judgment. "Why aren't we winning more business?" Because you suck, presumably.

* Add calibration & timeframe: Include qualifiers like most, least, highest and a specific timeframe (e.g., last quarter, next 30 days).

* Ask with Pure Curiosity: Listen without judgment or a pre-determined answer.

* Generate New Thinking: The answer should create white space for reflection, not just recycle old thoughts.

Great questions show you care. And showing you care invites everyone else to do the same. That's all most of us want, really—a reason to give a damn.