The most important question you should ask your manager
If you’ve ever been around toddlers, you know how many questions they can ask in the space of just a few minutes. What’s a plane? Why does it fly? Do we have to go home? What’s for dinner? Why can’t I have more candy/juice/ice-cream/anything sugary?
The questions come pouring in over and over again, all day long. After all, the average toddler asks about 300 questions a day…By the time y0u’ve mustered enough strength to answer, you hardly remember what they’ve been asking for, nor which one of said inquiries is most pressing to attend to…
I should know, I have two little people of my own filled to the brim with question marks and interrogations of all kind. And by now, my own overactive, caffeine-powered brain’s learnt to discern between the most important inquiries, like “Are you gonna get mad?”(which suggests some form of mischief has taken place), and the ones that can be quickly tuned out with a quick nod, smile, or semi-threatening look…
The same can happen at work too, between sometimes over-inquisitive employees and frequently overwhelmed managers. In an effort to learn more, do more, and look like we really deserve that promotion, we tend to ask away. Unfortunately, most of our questions end up falling under the radar, and not being attended to as they should. I mean, there’s just not enough time, coffee or Kit-Kat bars to go around…
When your manager’s calendar fills up faster than the corner Starbucks, and you have to seize the first window of opportunity available, you have to ask meaningful questions. Preferably ONE meaningful question! ONE question that can be all the difference between working strategically and spinning your wheels to no end. Not to mention the fact that it’ll make your boss do a double-take, and possibly jot down some promising words for your next performance review…
ONE question: “What can I do to make your job easier?”
That’s it.
Sounds too simple? Think again…
One of my mentors put me onto this “magic” question years ago, as she said this: “The best thing you can do is to align your vision and work to that of your managers and the rest of the team. Always ask yourself how your work can further your manager’s interests and help the rest of the team. If there’s one question you must ask, it’s that!”
Whether as part of a performance review, informal one-on-one, or quick touch-base meeting, it goes a long way to show that not only are you committed to your job, you’re committed to your team and your management.
Even more than commitment, it shows strong leadership skills, and is as a sign you’re ready to step to the next level. Your initiative may very well put you in a position where you may be privy to information you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. At worst, it’ll help you re-focus and re-direct your efforts in a strategic way.
What do you think? Have you ever tried asking your boss what you can do to make her/his job easier? Would you?
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To your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
