Comments on: The Right Questions

By: John Gallagher

John Gallagher — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:40:35 +0000

Craig,

These will help and I have a few others I like to use based upon experience:
What do we need to KEEP doing?
What do we need to START doing?
What do we need to STOP doing?

The order is important.

By: riddle

riddle — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:54:17 +0000

I think you are right. The right questions make all the difference. The trouble is, that most leaders in the church only know how to ask the questions you ask here. I’d suggest that questions you included here are actually counter productive in that they are working against you Craig and what I know that you stand for. You want to empower the people to be the church. You want them to see themselves as responsible for their neighbor and the LC.tv’s ministry, both on the people within the church and those outside. You want people to be disciples.

the problem is that these questions don’t do any of those things. And while I understand that these aren’t the only questions you are asking people (or suggesting people ask) they are unintentionally working against you dream for your church.

A person can answer everyone of these questions and not be engaged. A person can answer everyone of these questions and actually become less of a disciple and less responsible for the well being of their neighbor. They can answer these questions and leave with no real feeling of ownership because by asking these questions in this way, you are taking that responsiblity from them. You are showing that you are the one responsible.

for instance, the last question is pretty common. “What’s the one thing that you’ll take away from this event?” It sounds like an engaging question, but I can answer it without engaging because it has nothing to do with my responsibility for the event. Often in our meetings we’ll break into smaller groups and have people come back and report with a question like this. Maybe a better question when people return would be, “Say something encouraging to the people in the room based on your experience here today.”

Just some thoughts.

By: Patrick Moore

Patrick Moore — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:46:06 +0000

Good stuff.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:22:26 +0000

Thank you for these tips. In my job, I’m always asking people for feedback (it’s part of the job:)). And I’m always trying find the right questions to ask so people will give helpful feedback (meaning they have a suggestion or solution) rather than just saying they simply don’t like something.

By: AndyA

AndyA — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:17:40 +0000

@Jared B I think you ask God first, then ask people. God can easily talk through one of the people you ask. It’s good to have people who will hold you accountable and answer your questions in the best way they can, instead of just a random onlooker. Seek and you will surely find!

By: Jared B

Jared B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:17:12 +0000

Oooh! These are very helpful to me! (right now especially…actually they will always be!)

I have a question for whoever has an answer!

I know feedback is very helpful and good. However, I find it difficult to ask for it because I am always thinking I should be asking God. What is the point where you ask God AND people, or just God?

(I hope it was a clear question :) )

By: Ken Eastburn

Ken Eastburn — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:49:50 +0000

Great insight, Craig! Now, about the one thing you should change… ;-)

By: Lori Biddle

Lori Biddle — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Good reminder to actually ‘ask’. Sometimes I admit, I don’t want to hear feedback even though I highly value critique.

I love PEACE! I often avoid getting someone’s feedback because it causes me to become unfocused and I sometimes go in a lot of directions trying to make everyone happy!

How do you balance that?

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:43:33 +0000

Thanks for the helpful questions.

By: Brandon Duff

Brandon Duff — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:32:06 +0000

This is so helpful Craig. Thanks for investing in others. Praying for you.

By: Dave Baldwin

Dave Baldwin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:41:30 +0000

Thank you Craig. These questions remind me of the way that great question asker — Bobb Biehl — goes at things. I have tended to live in the area of the first set of questions.
Blessings,
Dave