Making the Ask

One of my current clients businesses is in an industry that has suffered devastating blowsover the past 24 months. Funny, but it seems everywhere I go entrepreneurs and leaders want’s answers….

I want to ask questions. My question is often; what is the question(s)?

What are you asking? Who are you talking to? Who are you listening to? What are the questions that matter, here, now, presently at this season of the journey, at this intersection with so many options (perhaps you can’t see them all) to choose from?

There are a plethora of ways we can make the ASK; in person, over the phone, email or using one of today’s incredible technology tools.

In business, in addition to the traditional forms we’ve always used to ask and engage with we are now using social media, social networks, forums, discussion groups, face to face conversation tables, surveys, blogs and more. Long gone are the days in which you could touch base twice a year with a client or check in with an employee for an annual review and feel connected, engaged and have them even possibly think you give a rat’s ass.

Things have changed.

It’s not about what you know it’s about what you don’t.

It’s not about what you can do, it’s about what you can do with others and for others. It’s not about monologue and answers it’s about dialog and questions, its about engaging anything else is just plain and simple ignorance, narcissism, or worse yet; not giving a shoot…..

Making the ask, asking, engaging says you care.

The great thing is that there is a plethora of free technology platforms for entrepreneurs and leaders to use to help them engage.

Just this week I helped a new client, who hasn’t been asking many questions lately to leverage Survey Monkey to make the ask of his client data base.

We combined the power of Survey Monkey with the ease of Constant Contact and after years of not asking, we had clients, vendors and alliances engaging with us in conversation around questions that matter; now. This is just the beginning of engagement for this client. We are learning how to make the ask and the results….well; it’s going to be transformational.

Because…when you ask- you receive.

Another way I’m making the ask, and finding out what matters with clients is by reinventing the ole school focus group and turning it into what I call real time social conversations.

Forget about hiding behind that two way mirror. Meet on line in forums or on a social media site or better yet come together face to face around a table and ask, engage and listen.

My life is a hologram so asking occurs in all areas. And I find myself attracted and aligning with others who are curious, engaging and who demonstrate their authentic care by asking me…by listening, by responding.

Asking demonstrates care.

I learned along time ago;

I don’t’ know what I don’t know, which means today, anything is possible….. if I am willing to remain open and ASK.

So what are you asking and how?

Photo Credit everybodys asking why?, originally uploaded by dhoruhandi.At Flickr

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