Asking the Right Questions

Take your time to ask the right question and then ponder the answer. Photo credit: JNemchinova

I highly encourage you to keep these questions handy and display them — maybe in several places. Some of the questions are for you to ask yourself and some are to be asked of others.

1. Does this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment) fit with my goals and aspirations?
2. Does this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment) draw on my strengths and talents?
3. Does this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment) energize me or inspire me in some way?
4. Does this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment) make a contribution to my organization, my community, my life, the world (or whatever the right scope is)?
5. Am I the only person who can do this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment)?
6. Why are you asking me to take on this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment)?
7. Do I care about the person who is asking me to do this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment)?
8. Do I have the time to do this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment)?
9. Do I have the mental and emotional space to do this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment)?
10. Do I have the skills (or am I interested in acquiring the skills) to do this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment)?
11. Am I willing to devote my time, energy, and attention to this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment), which involves cleaning up a problem, issue, or mess that I had nothing to do with causing?
12. If I do this _______ (activity, task, job, responsibility, commitment) what will I *not* be doing or what will it take the place of?

I’m a “big pie” kind of person, i.e., the sense that we need to think about how to make the pie bigger for everyone vs. worrying that if someone else gets a slice of the pie, then there will be less for me.

HOWEVER…in terms of hours in a week, weeks in a year, and years in your life, it is a zero sum game. If you are doing X, then you’re not doing Y or Z. Be thoughtful, strategic, and prudent about what you say yes to. Use these questions for yourself and also ask them of yourself before giving a task or responsibility to someone else. Share the list and the wisdom.