AM I ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS?: How to Focus on What Matters Most (Career Savvy People Skills)

EVER LOOK BACK AT THE END OF A TOUGH WEEK AND ASK,

• HOW COULD I HAVE OVERLOOKED THAT OPPORTUNITY . . . OR THAT HIDDEN PROBLEM?
• WHY DID I LET MYSELF GET DRAWN INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S PROBLEM?
• WHY AM I FAILING TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION AND COMPENSATION THAT I HONESTLY DESERVE? WHAT AM I MISSING? WHAT CAN I DO TO TURN IT AROUND?
• HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO OBLIVIOUS TO THE SUBTLE STUFF THAT WAS REALLY GOING ON HERE?
• HOW DO I CONSISTENTLY GET SIDETRACKED INTO SECONDARY ISSUES AND MISS WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

EVER GET THE SENSE YOU'RE FAILING TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS—BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM?

Ever get the sense that you're not winning-- maybe not even aware of --the subtle games of business and life going on around you . . . let alone the tricky games of career success and office politics?

As one federal executive put it, "You've got to be aware of the games that are being played. You don't have to play the games yourself, but you do need to recognize when they are being played against you."

But if the other players –our co-workers--don't tell us what the rules are in these career games, nor even put a name to them, then how do we survive and SUCCEED? How do we develop key career development skills? How? By making a habit of asking the right questions.

AM I ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS? How to Focus on What Matters Most is the newest book in the Career Savvy People Skills Series, written by Michael McGaulley, a lawyer and management consultant, and draws on his experiences in a variety or organizational types—government, industry, technology, banking, and small business.

It is structured around a checklist of the savvy questions that guide you to career success, fleshed out with mini-case studies, lots of examples, and additional questions and worksheets for getting perspective and organizing your ideas and insights. Here are a few of the questions:

• What are the "real rules" that operate here in this organization or even this meeting, beneath the coded language and disinformation?
• Do I really need to be involved in this, or am I being drawn into someone else's problem?
• What is "winning" for me in this situation? What is winning for others--including hidden players operating through stand-ins?
• What is my best move at this point? Is a confrontation needed? If so, is now the best time?
• What should I consider before taking action? Am I thinking enough steps ahead?
• Are there broader opportunities hidden within this situation?
• What can I learn from this situation?
• Am I receiving the recognition and compensation I honestly deserve?

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else." -- Albert Einstein

This is one of the books in the CAREER SAVVY PEOPLE SKILLS SERIES:

Book #1: MENTAL PICKPOCKETING: How to Get to the Truth Without Seeming to Ask Questions
Book #2: AM I ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS? How to Focus on What Matters Most
Book #3: UNPUZZLING PERSONALITIES: How to Understand and Work Better with People and Teams
Book #4: MAKE DECISIONS YOU CAN SELL: “Sell “to Others . . . and to Yourself Later (To be published September 2022)