How To Ask Better Questions To Get What You Want

Seven times. Seven times he asked his question in seven different ways. 

Last week I was at a private executive event where Babs Rangaiah, Executive Partner at IBM, was in deep conversation on stage with another executive. 

The first time he asked his question, it was part of another question so it could have been missed. 

The second time he asked his question, the other executive used it as an opportunity to tell a related story. 

The third time he asked his question he gave two options “was it this or that?”

(He was getting closer)

The interview continued. So did Babs. Each time he referred back to his original question he asked it in a slightly different way, increasing the vagueness providing the other executive freedom to share what he was willing to. 

On the seventh attempt we all got to hear what we wanted. It was impressive. 

I can’t share the subject as it is confidential, but it doesn’t dilute the lesson.  

Babs told me afterwards:

“As long as your persistence is greater than their resistance you’ll win”

Are you giving up too soon asking for what you want?

Did you hear my BBC interview? Link and details here. 

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Are You Happy With Your Inner Circle?

Who do you know will return your text or call within minutes right at the second you need them? 

Executives, entrepreneurs, and consultants alike all need a strong inner circle of people they trust who will support, guide, and tell it to them straight when they need it.

I’m writing this as I fly back from Washington DC where I got to meet with some of my inner circle as we were speaking and attending the same event. I even decided to bring together some of my clients from Belgium, Canada, and across the US to help them form connections for their own inner circles.

I got a giant jolt of energy.

We were able to catch up slowly to fill in the blanks between the brief text and email updates.

...and probably most importantly, we were able to jointly celebrate the life of a dear colleague who lost her battle with cancer last week.

Is it time to reconsider, update, and reconnect with your inner circle?

Wishing you an abundance of people who surround you and lift you up.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Why You Need To Go Ahead Right Now

What exactly are you waiting for?

I rarely come across an executive who makes decisions too fast. 

I recently started working with an executive and she said “Val, I’ve achieved more in the last four weeks than the previous four months, you’ve unlocked decisions I was sat on that have now freed up my team to deliver”

We delay for many reasons, the most common one is confidence. 

Are you confident it is the right decision?

Are you confident that others will agree?

Are you confident that it won’t need changing later?

Are you confident in your ability to make the right call?

Are your lawyers and HR folks running the business or are you?

It’s far easier to make a decision work than keep wringing your hands over what decision to make. 

The impact of your decisions are far reaching, but the impact of your indecision is far worse. 

Don’t sacrifice your profits or encourage your people to run out of the door.

Make a decision and move on. 

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/