Dive Brief:
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Employees asking too many questions in the workplace used to be considered an annoyance, but today it could be the mark of an employer where innovation and analytical skills thrive, says an expert writing in The New York Times.
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While keeping quiet and doing one's job used to make for the ideal employee, being curious and asking more questions of managers is a way to sharpen the company's competitive edge, according to Warren Berger, author of "A More Beautiful Question."
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Berger says more and more he is hearing that business leaders want their direct reports to be more curious, more inquisitive. They should be asking questions such as "Why am I doing my job the way I do it?" and "How might our company find new opportunities?" The situation is a golden opportunity for HR to get involved.
Dive Insight:
Berger writes that employers today face "rapid change and rising uncertainty." That means the pressure is on to figure out what lies ahead and asking questions can help expedite that outcome, he says. Mainly, questions can lead to innovation.
How does HR fit into this quest for more inquisitiveness? For one thing, Berger suggests that employers can use simple ways to train people to become more comfortable and proficient at it. He cites "question formulation exercises" instead of typical brainstorming sessions, noting that Kristi Schaffner, a Microsoft executive, regularly conducts such exercises saying they sharpen analytical skills.
Most importantly, he notes, once employees start asking more questions, "responding well" is critical. He says rewarding those who step forward with good questions is a step in the right direction. HR can serve as a key driver in creating that scenario.
