“What If”
Currently Disney+ is reimagining several Marvel Cinematic Universe storylines in a series entitled “What If”. For instance, the initial episode wondered what if Peggy Carter was forced through an unexpected series of events to take the Super Soldier serum rather than Steve Rogers. As a result, she would have become Captain America.
What Disney+ and the MCU are reminding us is one of the most important qualities leaders need to have in the (post) pandemic world is curiosity. Curiosity often reveals itself in leaders who have the ability and humility to ask great questions. And smart leaders have discovered there are few questions better than “What if….?”
“What if” gives us new perspectives. It provides new thinking and opens up undiscovered possibilities. This question challenges our assumptions. “What if” unlocks creativity. It creates options. Once again, “What if” is all about the value of curiosity.
A 34% Return On A 10% Improvement
Francesca Gina in her excellent book Rebel Talent: Why It Pays To Break The Rules At Work And Life cites a study conducted by Spencer Harrison of the INSEAD business school in France.
Over a two-week period, salespeople of an e-commerce site were periodically asked to judge their level of curiosity regarding their individual jobs and its company’s products on a scale of 1-to-10. What they discovered was fascinating!
If their level of curiosity increased by just a single point or 10% (ex. their level or curiosity went from a 6 to a 7), their productivity (i.e. sales numbers) increased 34%!!!
What we learn is….
Organizations with curious leaders and team members have a competitive advantage.
To help your organization have a competitive advantage, the following are 20 “What If” Questions Leaders Need To Be Regularly Asking:
- What if there is a better way to do this?
- What if we are solving the wrong problem?
- What if we ask our (prospective) customers what their needs are?
- What if we ask our employees what would make it easier to serve our customers?
- What if we changed our services, or products, or processes to meet ever-changing needs?
- What if we looked for a different set of skills in the people we hire?
- What if we developed a new set of relationships?
- What if we viewed failure differently?
- What if we rewarded things like innovation?
- What if everyone in our organization had a personal growth plan?
- What if we tried something new?
- What if we scheduled time to think creatively and dream?
- What if we viewed problems as opportunities for improvement rather than threats?
- What if we showed more empathy to everyone we interact with?
- What if we asked “Why not” more then we asked “Why”?
- What if we read more books?
- What if we viewed more decisions as investments rather than expenses?
- What if our best days are ahead?
- What if we could change the world today?
- What if we asked God more often what He thinks?
What are some “What If” questions you could begin asking which would allow your organization to have a competitive advantage?
The Top 60 Leadership Quotes From 2021 Part 1 is my latest ebook. For many entering a post-pandemic environment, leadership looks completely different than the pre-pandemic world. People are more broken now. They are more uncertain. Fear and anxiousness are unwelcome constant companions. Cultures are more unhealthy. Relationships are more dysfunctional. Hope seems to be in short supply. Every day seems to bring a new hacking, natural disaster, or unexpected calamity.
Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.