| Do you realize that knowing the right questions to | | | | belongs - too often you don't do what you could |
| ask is the key to ultimately finding the right | | | | do to be a better leader simply because you don't |
| answers? As leaders, there are certain questions | | | | want to do it! |
| that must be revisited regularly. Understanding | | | | Question 3: Is it worth it? |
| these questions - and the scope of the answers | | | | This question in many ways is the most important |
| associated with them - is a major key to | | | | question of all. I have trained myself to ask this |
| preparing ourselves to influence and impact | | | | question repeatedly during the course of a day, |
| others. Consider the following. | | | | week, month, etc. The answer to the question is |
| Question 1: What can I do? | | | | important. If your honest answer is "no," then my |
| Isn't it great to live and work in a country that | | | | advice is to stop whatever the activity is and |
| allows us the freedom to do virtually anything we | | | | walk away. Don't waste any more time, effort or |
| choose? There are few imposed limitations on | | | | money on something you have already |
| what we can learn, what we can do, where we | | | | determined has no redeemable value. On the |
| can go, what we can experience, who we can | | | | other hand, if you have determined something is |
| learn from. Yet, many of us waste valuable time | | | | worth the time, effort and money, that you are |
| and effort bemoaning what we can't do. As a | | | | expending, then don't hold back. Redouble your |
| leader, I encourage you to explore honestly and | | | | efforts and move forward aggressively. |
| fully the possibilities around you. | | | | Question 4: What will I do? |
| Question 2: What do I want to do? | | | | There it is. The point of decision. Time to act. |
| This question presents more of a personal | | | | What will you do, starting today, to be a more |
| challenge than the first. Let's face it. There are | | | | effectively leader? What will you read or study? |
| many things we can do to enhance our leadership | | | | What comfort zone will you step out of in order |
| potential - which we simply don't want to do. We | | | | to stretch your horizons? Who will you contact |
| don't want to do them because we perceive that | | | | who might be able to teach you something about |
| it will take too long, be too hard, cost too much, | | | | leadership...about life...about yourself? |
| not be worth the effort, etc. Be honest with | | | | Now we know the questions. I suggest you get |
| yourself. Place the blame where it securely | | | | to work on sculpting the right answers for you. |