Fire Me!
November 17th, 2004 by HalI just finished the book QBQ!: The Question Behind the Question®, by John G. Miller. This is a wonderful little book that belongs in every briefcase (not on your bookshelves) and ready to give to that special person you want to see succeed. The author's premise is we ask really lousy questions that direct our attention away from where we can be most effective in taking action. Simply, the better questions — the questions behind the question — place the accountability for action on the questioner.
No sooner had I finished the book than I read John Brandt's Industry Week column Suffocating Under That Golden Parachute?. John is offering to be any company's scapegoat for poor performance. Rather than firing the CEO and paying the usual $20 million severance John is offering to be fired for half the amount. Now that's accountability! And a bargain to boot! The board of directors can avoid the public embarrassment of letting go one of their own. Who knows, the favor just might need to be returned.
Those of us just doing our projects may never avail ourselves of John Brandt's services, so I suggest we take John Miller's advice. If you want better answers, then you gotta start asking better questions. Those better questions — the questions behind the questions — all have the same form.
What can I do now to make the situation better?
The question takes our attention away from others and places accountability where we have greatest influence — on ourself. That question alone just might save the project and your career.
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