Successful people ask better questions,
and as a result, they get better answers.
- Tony Robbins
Two monks, both heavy smokers, were unable to stop smoking during prayers. To solve this dilemma, they each wrote a letter to the Pope and asked for his ruling.
Three weeks later they found, to their surprise, that the Pope had given only one of them permission to smoke. On comparing their letters, they found the explanation. The first monk had asked, “May I smoke during prayers?” and the answer was, “No.” The second monk, however, had framed his question differently: “May I pray while I am smoking?”
The ability to ask the right questions is the “black belt” in the art of negotiations. Knowing how to ask questions is a powerful tool not only in business negotiations but also in our personal life. Questions can build a bridge between people and form a basis for dialogue.
But it only works if the question is carefully worded. Like any tool, if it is used improperly it can backfire. Suppose you meet a friend who is dealing with a personal crisis. Asking him, "What is your problem?" won't help much. But if you ask him, "Would you like to talk about your problem? I am a good listener," this will open the gate and allow him to speak and get relief.
No comments:
Post a Comment