The Forgotten Question, When Leading
When we lead or support others in roles of leadership, there are always questions to be asked of ourselves and others. However, if we neglect to ask this critical question, our plans may go up in smoke.
What is The 90 Degree Burning Question?
No matter whether you lead an organization or manage your
own business or creative endeavor, you’ll need to make decisions and choices on a regular basis to move forward. Before you take action to achieve a new goal, project or program, there is one question so basic, it is often overlooked.
- WHY?
- Why would we do this? or, sometimes…
- Why would we not do this?
- What problem am I / are we trying to solve?
'We'll Figure that Out Along the Way'
Please, No!
If we don’t pause to clearly consider the “why” up front, we risk going down the wrong path only to realize later that we need to back up. We risk wasting resources, and we can also miss the opportunity to think more broadly or out-of-the-box. By stopping to ask ‘why’ before we dig in, we are better positioned to achieve something of greater meaning or impact than might have otherwise been possible.
Taking the time to ask ourselves and others “why” can also prompt us to think more deeply about the problem we want to solve or the opportunity we want to maximize.
Along with asking “why,” other questions we may want to pose before moving forward include:
- Who are the beneficiaries of the goal/objective? the project or program? Do the potential beneficiaries want this?
- Is this the right time? If not, why not? And if not, will there be a better time?
- Who will be responsible for implementing this? for sustaining? for managing?
- What is the cost, and does the cost-to-benefit ratio make sense? This links to the question of return on investment (ROI).
There are many questions to consider when managing and leading. However, if we forget to start with clearly identifying the problem to be solved, we risk wasting time and resources.
For non-profits engaged in strategic planning or policy implementation, the best place to begin this discussion, in my opinion, is with your board. Each board member can offer a unique perspective, and you might be surprised by the diverse answers to such a simple question. More importantly, by encouraging everyone to participate in asking “why,” you enable board members to take ownership of the decisions that are made.
Depending upon the nature and scope of the problem or opportunity, you may need to be including staff, donors, and community stakeholders in the conversation also.
In sum, lead others in asking and answering “Why” at the outset, and you will be well-positioned to achieve a successful, shared vision, to invite others to support your goal, and ultimately to create or drive positive change for the benefit of, not just your organization or constituents, but the larger community.