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Tip 493: Resist demands or commands by using questions. |
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If you don't think you can be straightforward with authority figures, force them to rethink their demands or commands with questions such as: "Are you aware that it will take me about three days to collect this data?" "Are you sure that the client really needs this report?" "Could you write out the instructions so that I understand fully what's involved before I begin?" |
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Tip 494: Find commonalities with questions. |
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A large part of building rapport with colleagues involves finding things you have in common. Questions move the process alongespecially if they're broad enough to allow expansive answers. The broader the questions, the more chance you'll discover connections: "What's your background in the industry?" "What part of the country do you like best?" "How do you feel about the quality initiatives the company keeps pursuing at such expense?" "Do you feel as confused as I do about the new family-care options they're offering us?'' |
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Tip 495: Reduce your anxiety by asking questions. |
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Fear of the unknown grips all of us from time to time. Posing our fears as questions to colleagues has a calming effect on our own mind. On the surface, the questions seem to gather information; in reality they collect others' reactions to the same situation. "Does anybody know if that noise means trouble?" "Are we the only people gullible enough to volunteer for this committee?" "Has anybody polled our customers to see what the reaction will be when we tell them the price increases we're planning for next year?" In other words, by asking if others join us in our fears we find comfort to go along as planned or courage to resist. |
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Tip 496: Use questions to stall. |
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You can almost always stall a decision by asking for more details, more data, more analysis, more options, more explanations, more benefits, more comparisons, more testimonials, more objections from your subordinates or colleagues. As long as people are chasing down answers, everyone is stalled in coming to conclusions. |
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