The objectives of this short ten minute exercise -
- To learn a management tool that will be helpful in work life
- To apply the learning
- To start a great day using this morning ritual
Step 1 - the warm up
Keep your journal and pen at hand
Sit in a relaxed position with an intent to go into a ‘flow state’ to learn something new
Take three deep, powerful breaths to lock in your focus and start the next step
Step 2 - the learning
About Socratic questioning
Situations (examples) where this tool can be best used
- Strategic Decision-Making (e.g. when considering expanding into a new international market)
- Performance Improvement (e.g. when addressing a recurring issue of low employee engagement)
- Cross-Departmental Conflict Resolution (e.g. conflict between Head of Product Development and the Head of Sales)
The top three mental muscles (competencies) developed by practicing this tool
- Critical Thinking: Encouraging deep thinking and exploration of ideas
- Problem-Solving: Addressing challenges thoughtfully and decisively
- Communication Skills: Conveying ideas effectively and listening to others
A corporate story to understand the usage of this tool
The Raphaël Vullierme (Luko) story
Context - Luko, a leading European tech startup in the home insurance space, faced a pivotal decision: how to scale operations while maintaining the company's customer-centric ethos.
Applying Socratic questioning facilitated a deeper analysis of this challenge.
Clarification questions
- What does "scaling operations" specifically entail for Luko?
- How do we define our "customer-centric ethos"?
Assumptions questions
- Are we assuming that rapid growth will dilute our customer focus?
- Is it presumed that existing processes can support increased demand without modification?
Probing questions
- What data supports the belief that our current model is scalable?
- Have we analyzed customer feedback to identify potential service gaps during expansion?
Viewpoint questions
- What strategies have other insurtech companies employed to scale successfully?
- Could partnerships or technology investments enhance our scalability while preserving customer satisfaction?
Consequences questions
- What are the potential risks of scaling too quickly?
- How might expansion impact our relationship with existing customers?
Impact -
Through this methodical inquiry, Raphaël and his team identified that integrating advanced AI could streamline operations without compromising personalized service. This approach enabled Luko to expand efficiently while upholding its commitment to customer-centricity.
A story from the World Wars
My personal story
Context
When I was in the UK for our product centre transition, the UK project manager was not confident about the skills of the Indian team. After listening to his concerns, I gave him many options but he would not agree. Ultimately I bet my month's salary if my guy fails. Fortunately the guy succeeded and I saved my salary. Instead of this knee jerk reaction, could I use Socratic questioning?
Clarification questions (to understand his concerns) - What specifically makes you doubt the skills of the Indian team?
Assumptions questions - Is it possible that past experiences with other teams are influencing your judgment of this team? Are there objective performance metrics that show the Indian team is not ready?
Probing questions - What conditions would make you feel more confident about the transition?
Consequences questions - What are the risks and benefits of giving the Indian team this opportunity?
Viewpoint questions - If the situation were reversed, and an Indian team doubted a UK team, how would you address it?
Encouraging reflective thinking - How might we set up a small pilot project to test their skills before committing fully?
Step 3 - the reflection
Sit back, go down memory lane, think of various events in your work life where you could have used this learning.
If nothing comes to mind, think of a situation that would help you answer any one of these interview questions.
- “How do you handle conflict at work?” - Talk about your approach of asking open-ended questions (Socratic questioning) to understand others’ viewpoint and come out with a win-win situation
- “Tell me about a time you failed and how you handled it.” - Talk about any project where you failed and how you used Socratic questioning to analyse and learn from the failure
- “Tell me about a time you had to influence someone without authority.” - Talk about any event where you used data and customer feedback to show its impact on user experience. Think how all aspects of Socratic questioning could be integrated when influencing your colleague
Step 4 - the practice
Apply your learning to the situation you selected above.
- Clarifications Questions
- Assumptions Questions
- Probing Questions
- Consequences Questions
- Viewpoint Questions
- Questioning the Question
Step 5 - the victory lap
Celebrate your achievement for a minute. Maybe a quick victory lap doing some energizing exercise?
**
To those who felt, “People may have encountered cases where tools were used as a substitute for genuine problem-solving, creating a negative impression.” - Do you feel that the last ten minutes were worth the effort?
I must tell you that some inspirational companies have institutionalised this tool (Google, McKinsey)
This exercise is not only about management tools. It’s about building a neural pathway. And it’s about my mantra for creating small daily acts of feeling successful and happy.
Don’t forget to carry this image 👇 in your mind. There could be a great situation where you may want to use the tool. Keep a log of all such situations. This practice will help you when you want to train someone.
My congratulations for your first dose of the day of success and happiness. Have a great day ahead.
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