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One of the top 10 skills of Leaders is the skill of asking the right questions
The skill of asking the right questions is consistently in the top 10 skills nominated by Directors and Executives around the world, and is the most important of the five skills identified as the innovative leader’s ‘DNA’.
Questions are the filters through which good decisions, great strategies and effective implementation plans are refined, honed, shaped and continuously re-shaped to drive the most effective actions and outcomes, and generate flow and engagement in organisations.
Not all questions have equal impact and effect.
Powerful Questions™ are the easiest, quickest, most effective way to continuously unlock the mind to create and implement the best decisions, strategies and solutions for successful outcomes.
They work by instantly and effortlessly enhancing core internal functions - the way we perceive, understand, process information, compare options, think, make judgements, make decisions, develop strategies and plans, communicate, and execute.
More specifically, Powerful Questions™ expand, contract, direct and focus the mind, switching seamlessly between rational/logical/analytical and creative/intuitive states of awareness, both of which are essential for good decisions and strategies.
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What you'll learn
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The subtle, unconscious processes by which the mind limits and distorts perception, perspective, mindset, awareness, thinking, understanding, judgements, decisions and actions
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The key language patterns (written and spoken) that reflect and identify those processes and the hidden risks and problems they create
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How to detect those language patterns ‘on-the spot’ at normal reading and speaking speeds
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Powerful Questions™ that immediately highlight and clarify those issues
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Powerful Questions™ that effortlessly expand, direct and focus perception, perspective, mindset, awareness, understanding and judgement to develop better decisions and workable solutions for those issues
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How to ask questions in a way that:
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increases trust, reduces resistance, builds relationships
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generates cooperation, collaboration and engagement​
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Edgar Schein
MIT Sloan School of Management
‘What we choose to ask, when we ask, what our underlying attitude is as we ask – all are key to relationship building, to communication and to task performance…What builds a relationship, what solves problems, what moves things forward is asking the right questions.’
Questions that are easy to learn and apply
The Powerful Questions™ work seamlessly at all levels and functions in organisations, generating engagement, commitment, insights and greater effectiveness.
They significantly reduce the hidden problems - and potentially millions of dollars of losses – that can diminish the effectiveness of decisions, strategies and execution, at each step along the way.
In addition, the Powerful Questions™ are effective at moving an organisation towards a more open, collaborative, accountable culture and leadership style.
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BENEFITS
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More effective and timely leadership, decisions, communication and actions
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Higher quality information and data for decisions, strategies, plans, actions
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Reduce risk, uncertainty, losses, wasted time and effort
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Reduce misunderstanding, create clarity in communications, decisions and delegation
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Identify potential weak points in strategy and execution, and ways to improve strategies and processes to work better
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Reduce meeting times up to 50% with better outcomes and alignment
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Elicit and understand values and meanings underlying decisions, and align them with corporate and personal values
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Identify implications (ripple effects) of decisions to test consequential risks and develop better decisions and strategies
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Identify, and fix, deficiencies in proposals, reports, process and strategies.
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Empower others and elicit diverse ideas, insights, solutions that work
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Generate greater ownership, engagement, commitment and trust
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Improve team relationships, flow, effectiveness, performance, productivity
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Elicit, test, clarify and verify facts that inform the issue and the solution
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Challenge, test, clarify, identify assumptions, opinions, beliefs and fuzzy thinking/ambiguous language for better outcomes
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Powerful training and skills for life
WARNING
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​The contents of this workshop may also cause the following intended side-effects:
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Action
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Responsibility
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Accountability
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Elimination of excuses, blame and
justification -
Openness and listening
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Focus, clarity
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Straight talk, accurate thinking
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Greater productivity
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‘Can do’ attitude
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Collaboration
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Solution-focussed mindset
Three-part training format
1. Two-hour online module, two weeks prior to the workshop to introduce the conceptual framework, and provide experience and insights into the subtle processes that shape mindset and language, to better know how to ask the right questions at the right time for maximum effect. You’ll also learn an initial technique that you can easily apply immediately every day, in real time on real issues.
2. The one-day live training will comprise a
a. morning session, where you’ll learn how to recognise the language patterns that create problems for decision-makers, and how to apply the Powerful Questions™ that are ‘antidotes’ to those patterns and turn the problems into positive outcomes
b. The afternoon session – you immediately put the questions into action, collaborating with colleagues to plan questions for a significant (internal or external) report or proposal to be presented at the training, and then ask the presenter questions to clarify, challenge, and enhance decisions.
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3. Two 90 minutes online modules will be presented after the live in-house training. Some further Powerful Questions™ will be covered, plus Q & A and group coaching where appropriate to help fine-tune using the questions.​​​​
1,500 Australian dollars- 9,000 Australian dollars
No product
Michael Wood,
Managing Director, Kingston Property Constructions
"This is an extremely practical workshop which can be applied immediately in every business situation. "
Leo Menkens,
Director
"The questions are ideal for identifying potential trouble spots. An excellent program. I apply the techniques constantly. It is a very useful process. "
Vanessa Boully,
Chairperson, Royal Flying Doctor Service.
"A powerful yet simple set of techniques that will enable me to ask relevant questions without appearing to question the integrity of others."
Graeme W. Horne,
General Manager, AGL
"Great program, very insightful and a good use of time."