Want better results? Ask these five questions!
I love words. The gift of language is invaluable to me for so many reasons. So, it’s not a surprise that I spend most of my time immersed in the world of words. Whether reading, writing, or speaking, words are my art form.
A key lesson I have learned is that we need to continuously seek better words so that we need fewer of them to communicate fully. If you look at the history and evolution of language, you can see the importance of that track. In doubt? Check out some Shakespeare, and you’ll soon agree.
My other love is study and analysis. But, again, the more refined the point, the better because it’s more actionable. Another argument that getting to the optimal words from the onset is vital.
What does that have to do with getting better results? Everything.
We are at the threshold of a new year, and most of us are asking the same questions about where we are going and what we want to accomplish. We have worksheets, workbooks, even vision boards filled with all kinds of ideas on how best to define all of that. But what about what happens next?
Once we know those initial answers, what is our next step? You might say it’s a plan, and that’s close. But there are some things to consider before we step into that plan.
That’s where just the right words in the form of simple questions make all the difference.
Here are five questions you can use when creating any plan to ensure you get the results you want:
What matters? This is the right question to lead with because we must know what matters to us in our life and work NOW. We can’t base what we’re about to do on old roles and responsibilities. What matters now? This is about staying in tune and in touch with our evolving values.
What’s changed? A second key question is looking honestly at what has changed. This is important because it shows us where we need to examine our biases and perspectives based on old information or situations. This is also where we come face to face with the need to release words like never and always. They rank right up there with perfect in their reality ranking.
What’s next? Sunsets are lovely, and it’s good to sigh into those from time to time, but nothing beats a sunrise. So, what’s on the horizon? How does that shift how we might want to move forward? What opportunities is that going to bring? What do we need to be ready to claim?
What’s missing? This is where the rubber meets the road in so many planning sessions. What have we missed? Sometimes it’s going back through those first three questions again, but often it’s also about our assumptions. Think risk for this one. What is missing that we need to examine? What could trip us up?
What else? This is perhaps my favorite question of them all because it speaks to possibilities. By this point, we know what matters. We have identified where things have shifted and taken that into account, and we are forward-facing and ready to step into new moments and possibilities. It now begs the question of what else needs to be considered.
This one is always a very personal question for me. What else do I want? What else am I hoping for in the end? What else must happen for me to achieve my ultimate dream? What else? This goes beyond what’s missing to what we haven’t yet dared to speak.
These five short questions use words that will take us on a journey and lead us right where we want to go and beyond.
