This can be a helpful question to ask as part of any decision-making process. It is important to remember that decisions have consequences on others and are implemented in the real world. For that reason, reflecting on who might need to have a voice or whose voice and perspective might add value can make the process more robust.
I carry this question with me into every meeting. I know from experience that unless the right decision-makers or indeed stakeholders are involved in the conversation you are going to struggle to make progress.
It can feel great coming out of a meeting with consensus and a clear path forward only to get a negative response when sharing with other key stakeholders either because some key perspective wasn’t considered or simply because the person in question is exerting their status or power.
Questions in the Image:
- Who isn’t in the room?
- Who isn’t in the room who may need to be involved?
- What is their relationship with this process?
- How might they help / hinder it?
Want to Read More Around This Topic?
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker (link to Amazon.co.uk). This book explores the importance of creating meaningful and purposeful gatherings, whether in personal or professional settings. The author emphasizes the significance of inviting the right people to the gathering and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and acknowledged.
Nurturing Curiosity – Daily Practice: This is part of the Nurturing Curiosity series of tools, insights and questions designed to help nurture curiosity as part of our daily practice. In point of fact, every interaction we have is an opportunity to question what we are observing and how we and others are seeing the world. Also remember that questions come in many forms throughout our day – a car driving past might be an opportunity to ask “Why do I consider some sounds noises and others not? Some sounds good and others bad?” Negative feedback from colleagues as an opportunity to ask “What might this be saying about them? What might they really be upset about?”
About Tom O’Leary
Tom guides bold pioneers through inner transitions towards regenerative futures.
His primary offering – through a process he calls Ecological Coaching – is about working with leaders on the mindset, skillset and structural shifts that will power their organisation’s outer transition.
This means helping leaders thrive while creating ripples of positive change within their organisation and most importantly for the communities they serve and ultimately life on this planet.
It is thus not just about the leader as an “individual” but rather as part of an ecology of relationships. Within this ecology, he helps the leader feel heard, gain clarity, take action, build confidence and thrive all in service of something bigger.
How Might Tom Help?
My first invitation is to take maximum advantage of the free content on this site.
- As you are reading this, you are clearly on a fascinating journey. If you feel you would benefit from us doing some work together on some aspect of your journey, please explore this page: How Can I Serve?
- I also endeavour to answer every email so if you have any queries do reach out.
