        
>>Click to know more
>>Click to know more |
|
Career Tips - Issue # 6 (Dec. 2004) FREE bimonthly newsletter dedicated to your career development. It will take about 10 minutes to digest this newsletter. This investment will pay off if you covert the following information into knowledge (i.e., apply it). Precision questioning It was a presentation covering administrative costs for Microsoft's Redmond campus. Bill Gates happened to be among the audience. The presentation was going on smoothly till Gates felt uneasy about a piece of data displayed on the screen. He stopped the person making the presentation and asked few questions about the figure displayed in one particular cell of the spread sheet. In a matter of minutes, he proved that the data was indeed wrong. Do you know what the data was about? Number of toilet rolls used in the Microsoft campus! But that's not the main point. The main point is how did Gates, by just asking few questions, could get to the bottom of the issue? And the answer is by applying the technique of "precision questioning." Precision questioning is a technique of asking questions such that you drill down through the mass of information and get to the most relevant and accurate information that you are looking for. Why it is important? Basically, to make correct assessments and sound decisions. In fact, Microsoft trains its employees in PQ. Precision questioning involves: 1. Knowing what information you are looking for and why? 2. Asking precise questions. 3. Listening carefully to the answers as well as to the silence. What is silence? Silence means the assumptions people don't normally tell when they give you an answer. 4. Being aware of any assumptions that you make in your own mind. Don't we, when we hear "sky is blue," automatically assume that it's about the sky outside and not in the recently downloaded screen saver? 5. Paying special attention to vague words/phrases, such as "much," "a bit," "more," etc. 6. All along controlling the direction of discussion so that it remains on track. 7. Non-stop questioning till you get the information that you are looking for. >>CAREER TIP: You can use the technique of precision questioning in dealing with anyone who needs to provide you information, including your clients. When a client says, "We can't afford this cost," don't assume it is time to offer discount. Gently, apply PQ. Who knows the client may be indirectly telling you to reduce your scope. Or, if a subordinate says, "I'm already too overloaded" don't shake your head in frustration. May be, if you apply PQ, you might discover he/she is actually doing someone else's work who is under loaded. Possibilities are enormous! Caution: Be gentle! It's not about investigating a person. It's purely about getting accurate information. Note: Any questions? Get hold of the book Precision Questioning by Dennis Matthies. That's the final answer on this subject! Transferable skills Have you ever wondered how can politicians, senior civil servants and top executives walk in and out of jobs that appear to be totally unrelated to one another? For example, Louis V. Gerstner, former chairman of IBM, was earlier CEO of RJR Nabisco, Inc. and before that, he was with American Express Company. Both of his previous jobs had little to do with IT. Actually, these people rely heavily on what is known as "transferable skills." Transferable skills are non-job specific skills. In other words, these skills can be used in different occupations. The advantage of having transferable skill is obvious: You enhance your market value and enjoy a larger job market. So what are these skills? Here is a broad list: 1. Management, Administrative and Leadership skills 2. Communication skills 3. Research skills 4.Human relation skills 5. Problem solving skills >>CAREER TIP: Remove from your mind the idea that you only belong to XYZ industry because all along you have been with XYZ industry. Dissect all your previous jobs and the present one and identify transferable skills. You may find you've used skills like leading, managing people, managing projects, selling, negotiating, planning, organising, etc. Anything which is non-job specific can be transferred to other occupations. These skills, which you probably don't take too seriously, can be your boat to the next job in the XYZ or in a different industry. Keep developing them! Will be back after two weeks. Atul Mathur FORWARD IT: Would you like to share what you've just read with any of your friends? Click below to send a link to your friends. To SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter, send a blank e-mail to:subscribe Career Tips ***Copyright 2004 Atul Mathur*** |
|
