Boost Your Leadership Skills By Disciplining Yourself In The Way Of The Question Mark

I'm often asked to come in to organizations and give a motivational speech to their employees. I reply that I'm not a motivational speaker. Never have been. Never will be. Don't want to be. I do something else. I teach their people how to become motivational leaders. That's a far more productive endeavor.

The concept and application of motivation are misunderstood in most organizations. The motivational industry is based on a fundamental contradiction; because the focus of motivation is misplaced. After all, leaders (salespeople included) should be motivated. If they aren't, they shouldn't be leaders.

Here's where the focus should be: not on the leaders themselves but on the people they lead. Can those leaders transfer their motivation to other people so those people are as motivated as they are about the challenges they face?

Furthermore: Can those people who "catch" the motivation of their leaders then go out and motivate others -- and those others go out themselves and motivate still others ... and on and on?

Finally, can people at each phase of this "cascading of cause leaders" translate motivation into action that achieves results -- and not just average results but more results faster on a continual basis?

All my books, articles, courses, seminars, workbooks and interviews are based on that simple sequence of ideas.

I have written many articles on motivation and how to transfer your motivation to others.

But there is another way of transforming your motivation to others that doesn't take much explaining. It's surprisingly simple, easy to use, and effective. Yet few leaders I've encountered use it, and those who use it, don't use it well.

It's the Way of the Question Mark. A "way" is a course of life one undertakes to advance in a particular discipline.

So it is with the Way of the Question Mark. It is not simply a technique; you'll find it is actually a disciplined course of life. (I've been using it for years and am still a long way from mastering it. Because the question mark is often particularly appropriate in a highly charged emotional situation. However, in such situations, when strong emotions are getting the better of me, it takes practice and discipline to step back, gather my thoughts, and ask a question.)

Practicing the Way of the Question Mark can enhance your relationships with the people you lead so you get a lot more results as a leader.

From now on in all your leadership endeavors, make a conscious effort to put a question mark at what would otherwise be declarative sentences.

Asking the question rather than using a declarative is usually more effective because it gets people reflecting upon their situation. After all, we can't motivate anyone to do anything. They have to motivate themselves. And they best motivate themselves when they reflect on their character and their situation. The question prompts people to answer, and when they are answering, they may engage in such reflection. You may not like the answer; but often their answer, no matter what it is, is better in terms of advancing results than your declaration. Also, their answering the question may prompt them to think they have come up with a good idea. People are less enamored of your great ideas than they are of their ideas, even if those ideas are simply average.

For instance, your organization needs to have people to from point A to point B. An order leader might say, "Go from A to B."

Practicing the Way, one might ask: "Tell me what you think about going from A to B?" or "What's the best way for you to go from A to B?" or "Tell me how I can support you going from A to B?" or "How will you take leadership of others going from A to B?"

Mind you, I'm not talking about pandering to people's whims. I'm talking motivation, motivating people to get more results faster on a continual basis. (In fact, you can't order people to get more results faster continually. Only motivated people can do it.) I'm talking about challenging people to undertake extraordinary things, to be better than they think they are.

The question mark, as opposed to the simple declarative, opens up a world of results-producing possibilities. And it's a world predicated on their choices.

Make the Way of the Question Mark your way. Discipline yourself to ask questions rather than make statements. You'll start getting more results.

2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: mail to: brent@actionleadership.com

The author of 23 books, Brent Filson's recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He is founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. ? and for more than 20 years has been helping leaders of top companies worldwide get audacious results. Sign up for his free leadership e-zine and get a free white paper: "49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results," at http://www.actionleadership.com

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:49:07 GMT Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers - ABC News Vancouver Sun Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers ABC News - 1 hour ago By LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT Car keys -- long perceived as the keys to teenagers' freedom -- may soon be the best way for parents to monitor their every move. Going Along on the Ride With Junior New York Times Ford: Key limits speed, stereo volume United Press International TheMustangNews.com - Edmunds.com/Inside Line - Computerworld - CNET News all 636 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:16:34 GMT As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating - Washington Post Seattle Post Intelligencer As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating Washington Post - 31 minutes ago By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ... Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress McCain ready for combat in 2nd presidential debate USA Today Financial Times - Chicago Tribune - Los Angeles Times - The Associated Press all 4,559 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:17:08 GMT Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' - USA Today Sioux City Journal Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' USA Today - 39 minutes ago By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor may be sidelined from ABC's Dancing With the Stars, but she says she won't let a leg injury suffered during rehearsals stop her from competing in beach volleyball. Misty May-Treanor drops out of ‘Dancing’ MSNBC May-Treanor vows torn achilles won't end her volleyball career ... ESPN E! Online - Portsmouth Herald News - BuddyTV - TMZ.com all 281 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:09:39 GMT Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine - International Herald Tribune Washington Post Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine International Herald Tribune - 59 minutes ago By Lawrence K. Altman The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to three European scientists who discovered viruses behind two devastating illnesses, AIDS and cervical cancer. Aids and cervical cancer pioneers share Nobel award Financial Times Nobel Prize to HPV Researcher Highlights Importance of Cervical ... FOXBusiness The Associated Press - Summit Daily News - Forbes - AFP all 1,040 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:50:01 GMT Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act - New York Daily News New York Daily News Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act New York Daily News - 38 minutes ago Plaxico Burress with his son after the Giants win Super Bowl 42. Burress will need to get his act together if the Giants are to repeat as champs. Burress Returns to Giants, With No Regrets New York Times Unapologetic Plaxico Burress returns to Giants The Associated Press The Star-Ledger - NJ.com - Hartford Courant - Rotowire - Newsday all 251 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:10:29 GMT China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low - Washington Post Alaska Highway News China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low Washington Post - 53 minutes ago By Blaine Harden Even Burma -- where one of the world's most repressive and isolated military governments relies on trade with China -- has now warned its people to steer clear of all Chinese dairy products. Video: No Traces of Melamine in New Test of Milk Powder AssociatedPress China vows overhaul of 'chaotic' milk industry The Associated Press Bernama - AllAfrica.com - International Herald Tribune - AFP all 1,384 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:33 GMT Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS - Sports Network New York Daily News Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS Sports Network - 34 minutes ago Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - BJ Upton hit two solo homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, to clinch their first berth in an American League Championship Series in franchise history. White Sox eliminated from post-season with Game 4 loss to Rays The Canadian Press Rays Finish Off White Sox to Reach ALCS New York Times MLB.com - Chicago Tribune - Boston Globe - The Associated Press all 2,434 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:14:13 GMT RSS For Web Pages Increase Web Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Marketing Miracle: Outsource Your Creative Services

The current economy is causing most companies to tighten their... Read More

Four Steps to Better Performance Reviews

Direct reports-people who need direction and leadership-rely on their leaders... Read More

Looking through the Glass Ceiling - Women in Management

Women have made tremendous contributions to society at every level;... Read More

Hold Your Applause!

It's amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care... Read More

To Thine Own Self Be True--Its Better for Business: What Arthur Andersen Would Say to His Company

As a child, you probably heard, "to thine own self... Read More

Proven Secrets to Keeping Your People and Increasing Your Profits

Why are people changing jobs so quickly these days?Here are... Read More

One Crazy Cookie

In order to survive, you have to be happier than... Read More

First Things First -- Process BEFORE Technology

Here's a brief story I encountered while leaving Newark International... Read More

Managing Meetings

Plan/prepare - lack of purpose causes aimless meetings. Know why... Read More

Selecting A Collection Agency

If you run a business, you are sure to have... Read More

Make Them GLAD Youre Their Boss

Criticism has the power to do good when there is... Read More

Preparation: Your Companys Best Defense in Case of Catastrophe

You've hung out your shingle and are ready for business.... Read More

The Silent Assassin - What to Do When They Visit You?

IntroductionThere are a group of people in the community that... Read More

How Managers Can Turn Failures Into Successes

Although there are real, external reasons for managerial difficulty ?... Read More

6 Simple Steps to Dealing with Difficult Managers

The challenge of managing difficult managers can be rather daunting,... Read More

Project Management - Preventing Project Slips

Can Project Managers prevent projects from slipping?Ask a techie to... Read More

Biometrics and ?Return On Investment?

At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business... Read More

Take Your Firm to the Next Level

So you did such a good job in 2003 at... Read More

Which ITIL Process Should We Implement First?

The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT... Read More

Seeking Help

Where does the time go? Billable time. As a consultant,... Read More

What is the Most Difficult Part of an Improvement Program?

Answer: Starting one.Most of us realize that there is probably... Read More

Business Innovation ? Ignoring Content

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Employee Retention: Five Leadership Fundamentals

Are your management practices on the right track? Retaining your... Read More

Managing Rebellious Employees

Surveys of executives reveal that many companies fall short of... Read More

Treat Employees Fairly, Car Wash Entrepreneur sets Industry Standards

I believe that whether corporations expense their stock options is... Read More