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Asking questions during a meeting can lead to a better outcome. The key is to know what questions to ask.
“It’s not about being confrontational or adversarial, and it’s not about being indecisive,” says Laura Maness, CEO of Havas New York. “It takes confidence and courage to ask tough questions and to have the conviction to do it in the moment.”
Maness says she likes to lead her team by asking questions. “Not in a passive aggressive way,” she says, “or in a roundabout way to get an answer.” Instead, it’s about empowering people to find an answer, she says.
Here are five questions to ask at your next meeting
What is most important right now, and why?
This helps uncover what the biggest priorities are and can bring clarity and focus to the immediate opportunity for impact, Maness says.
How does this support the goal?
Make sure whatever you are being asked to do supports the core purpose, Maness says. By asking clarifying questions about the overarching goals, you gain strategic alignment. You also might uncover other impactful opportunities.
What are you not seeing or hearing at the meeting?
This is a great way to uncover challenges that aren’t being directly addressed, Maness says. It also ensures that everyone has the same expectations.
What’s the context?
If you’re assigned a task, find out what’s behind their ask to uncover the real problem you are being asked to solve, Maness suggests. Ask how, what and what if. Once you know someone’s motivation and have context around it, you can determine the best course of action.
What’s the win?
Understand what success looks like. “A win doesn’t have to be a major victory, it could be as simple as developing a deeper understanding,” Maness says.
Why?
Don’t forget the power of why. If you seek to break a long-standing tradition that doesn’t seem to apply anymore, if you have a better idea for working with your team, or if you’re unhappy with a policy, don’t be afraid to ask why. It’s as simple as asking “Why is something done this way, when it could be done that way instead,” Maness says.
The one thing Maness says she never questions is her belief in herself. “ In order to question everything, you need to have confidence in yourself,” she says.
