Aug 11, 2011
Print this post
Is a Question Worth It?
As project managers, we ask a lot of questions. But we need to ask ourselves if questions are the right form of communication.
When developing a communication management plan (PMBOK Guide, 4th Edition, Chapter 10) it’s helpful to define how people like to communicate. This encompasses both their preferred medium (email, phone, meetings) and the form your communications should take to be most effective.
It may seem harmless enough, but a question is not always the most effective way to communicate.
When soliciting work performance information we may ask about the status of an activity or deliverable. In the role of project leader or representing the voice of the customer we may ask about alternative solutions or push the edges of solutions/methods presented by team members.
But different people take questions differently.
- To some, a question is a direct request. What you mean as an exploration of a topic is taken as a demand or request to do something.
- To others, a question is a direct affront to their role.
- And questions about money, to non-money people, can raise uncertainty in your leadership and cause discomfort.
Like all communications, what matters is what listener takes away, regardless of your intent.
Pay attention to the effect questions have on various stakeholders and determine whether they are an effective form of communication with that person. Once you learn that, add it to your communication management plan to keep as a reference.
Use your questions wisely.
[...] This encompasses both their preferred medium (email, phone, meetings) and the form [...] Vertabase Blog You can also visit BBC Web Hosting For unlimited web hosting We also recommend you to visit [...]
[...] A corollary to “Is a Question worth It“: [...]