the Maine HR Cafe

This blog entry started as a response to Lisa Rosendahl’s HR Thoughts blog entry On Being An Instrument. As I was tippity tappity typing there, I decided to return here to add additional clarication.

Linda’s posting centers on folks asking us for something while only giving us enough information to manipulate a response, reaction and action that meets their one sided agenda. There is always more to the story.

I have several questions I ask to add light to the dimness. Pretty much in this order.

1. What do I need to know? (what do you want me know)

2. What else do I need to know? (what do you not want me to know)

3. What aren’t you telling me? (the rest of the story)

4. What do you want? (with credit given to crucial conversations)

5. What do you not want? (with credit given to crucial conversations)

Follow-up questions to these five basic questions journey through who, where, why and how.

Listening with both ears, one mind, and one mouth is key. In other words, to repeat oft offered guidance, listen twice as much as you speak while thinking before you ask the next question.

Toss in some sincere & authentic empathy where available. There is no faking it until you make it.

Lisa, thank you for the inspiration.

~ by RMSJr on March 21, 2009.

Posted in HR
Tags: Emotional Intelligence, Employee Engagement, HR, HR Blogs, Maine, Maine HR