Better Questions, Better Results

How do you create boundaries that protect your focus at work? March 18, 2025 | Continuous Improvement, Flow State, Professional Development, Question a Day, Strategy, Time Management, Workplace Culture Question a Day   Protect Your Focus: How to Set Boundaries and Get More Done In today’s always-on, notification-filled world, staying focused at work feels like an extreme sport. Between endless emails, chat pings, unnecessary meetings, and that one coworker who needs "just a minute" (which is never just a minute), your brain feels under siege. The secret to deep focus isn’t just time management—it’s boundary management. Without clear boundaries, your productivity will always be at the mercy of others. Here's how to set strong boundaries to protect your focus, reduce burnout, and boost effectiveness. 1. Identify Your Biggest Focus Killers Spot the enemies of your deep work: 🚨 Constant Slack or email notifications? 🚨 Unplanned meetings? 🚨 Multitasking? Example Boundary:  ...

  February 27, 2025 | Active Listening, Collaboration, Communication, Conversation, Feedback, Meetings, Personal Development, Question a Day, Relationships Question a Day   Juggling Priorities in Conversations: How to Resolve Conflicts Without Losing Your Mind  Managing competing goals in conversations is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—challenging but not impossible. Whether you're leading a team meeting, navigating a disagreement with a friend, or negotiating project deadlines, conflicting priorities can easily derail discussions. But here’s the good news: with the right strategies, you can transform potential clashes into productive, even collaborative, conversations. Understanding Competing Goals in Conversations Competing goals arise when two or more people have different objectives in a conversation. These goals typically fall into three categories: 1. Task-Oriented Goals Focus on achieving a specific outcome (e.g., completing a project by the ...

How Much Time Do We Spend Answering the Wrong Questions? January 30, 2025 | Best Practice, Bias, Challenges, Communication, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Leadership & Workplace Culture, Opportunity, Pattern Recognition, Personal Development, Question a Day, Strategy, Time Management, Work-Life Balance Question a Day We don’t lack answers—we’re just asking the wrong questions.  In a world where time is the most valuable currency, we often squander it—not on the wrong answers, but on the wrong  questions . It’s not just a philosophical problem; this issue pervades our personal lives, workplaces, and even global decision-making. So, how much time do we really waste answering the wrong questions, and how can we fix this? Why Do We Ask the Wrong Questions? Before we tackle the "how much," we need to address the "why." Misguided questions often stem from: Lack of Clarity on Objectives We frequently ask questions without fully understanding what we want to achiev...

How do you plan your year for maximum productivity? January 15, 2025 | Best Practice, Planning, Question a Day, Strategy, Time Management, Tools Question a Day How to Plan Your Year for Maximum Productivity Planning your year for maximum productivity isn’t just about filling a calendar; it’s about aligning your goals, energy, and resources with a clear vision. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a student, or a professional, strategic yearly planning can set you up for success. Here’s how to turn your year into a masterpiece of productivity. (Think less chaotic Jackson Pollock, more serene Claude Monet.)  Here’s how to turn your year into a well-oiled machine of efficiency and growth. 1.  Reflect on the Past Year Before planning forward, glance backward. Ask Yourself: What worked well last year? What challenges did I face? Where did I spend most of my time and energy? Documenting these answers helps identify patterns, both good and bad. Use this data to avoid mistakes and replicat...