One of the most impactful actions a leader can take in their organization is to ask a question. It’s an invitation, it’s humble and humility is a magnet.
However many leaders fear the open to all conversations that enterprise social platforms can provide. And yet when diversity and unique perspectives contribute, problems get solved in new ways.
Why do they fear it? Because Democracy is slow. But there IS an easy way to speed up the process.
The way to avoid a long, drawn-out meandering discussion is to frame it and time box it. Before you can have the second conversation, the one that tackles the problem, you have to have the first. Something like this could suffice:
“We have an important decision to make. Before we get to it, it’s important that you agree to contribute by this Friday at 12 pm and keep all comments, ideas and questions laser-focused on the issue.”
Easy enough…
This first conversational request took me about a minute to write. One minute to invite, unite, and set reasonable ground rules. The second again is a post of the specifics of the issue/challenge/problem to be taken on. That’s it.
Having these two conversations has one powerful benefit – inclusion. Two conversations for one great culture. Two for one.
