By Susan West

Which question should I ask now?
I love questions. I have even started to collect my favorite questions in a folder. Maybe it is my love of learning, maybe it is my training as a coach, maybe it comes from being a Mom – I am not sure which has contributed more to my affinity for questions.

What I do know is that more often than not when I ask a question I receive more information than I expected. So before I know it, out comes another question.

My favorite questions are those referred to as open ended. Often I find myself having to restate a question to present in in an open ended manner. I do know my training as a coach has certainly enhanced my skill in asking the “right” questions.
As a leader managing a large staff questions became a great resource tool for me to uncover the real state of a project, the satisfaction level of my customers and what motivated my team. Even though my agendas for meetings reflected typical topics such as project updates, customer concerns, etc. I always had the questions I wanted to ask outlined before the meeting.
Some of my favorite questions include:

What can I do to support you?
What do you need from me?
How can we add more value?
What can we do to be more effective?
How can we communicate more effectively?
How are we doing in meeting project dates?
How are we doing in meeting client expectations?
Where might we improve?

Questions have become a powerful tool for me as a leader. I encourage you to gather your favorites and begin to use them more in your staff meetings, client meetings and employee meetings. You will be amazed with the information that questions asked in an open-ended, probing style will reveal.
Questions beginning with How and What are the most effective. A great resource on questions is one of my favorite books, QBQ – Question Behind the Question. I recommend this book for all managers and leaders.

What have you accomplished in the last 3 months? Do you review your progress toward improving your leadership skills and goals every quarter? Are you being accountable for your results?

Every leader should build a portfolio of their results. An artist, a photographer, a writer – people in these professions have a portfolio. A very visual portfolio. For career professionals, Leadership is your Art.

Do you have a portfolio? Begin now to pull one together. It’s simple.

My portfolio is in a 3 ring white binder labeled West Operations Business Portfolio. In this binder, you will find:

• Sales charts demonstrating year over year growth
• P&L statements of my best years
• Employee Retention graphs
• Accounts Receivable aging trends
• Project summaries of volunteer work
• Company vision and value statements
• Feedback from employees
• Testimonials from clients

It is very rewarding to update and review your portfolio every three months. It allows you to take a few moments to acknowledge your contribution and is a great opportunity to review your progress with your boss. Know what your results are – build your portfolio today!