10 KEY MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS

Professor Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was an American physicist, known for his work in quantum mechanics. He was also a thinker known for capturing deep truths in bite-sized chunks. I particularly like his observation that:

“Knowledge is having the right answers. Intelligence is asking the right questions. Wisdom is knowing when to ask the right questions.”

Below are ten key questions that will help you gain deeper insight into your business and identify areas for improvement.

As far as knowing when to ask them … well, that’s what separates Leaders from Managers.

1. What are our core values and how are they reflected in our daily operations?
2. What are our long-term goals and how are we working towards achieving them?
3. What are our strengths and weaknesses as a company and how can we leverage our strengths and improve upon our weaknesses?
4. How are we currently measuring our success and are these metrics the right ones for our business?
5. How are we currently managing and developing our team, and what can we do to improve our team's performance and engagement?
6. How are we currently managing our finances and are we making the best use of our resources?
7. How are we currently managing our marketing and sales efforts, and what can we do to improve our results?
8. How are we currently managing our customer relationships and what can we do to improve our customer satisfaction and retention?
9. How are we currently managing our internal processes and operations, and what can we do to improve our efficiency and effectiveness?
10. How are we currently managing our risk and what can we do to mitigate potential risks to our business?

Next Steps: Develop a plan which addresses each of these areas with measurable milestones to ensure you achieve your desired outcomes. You’re going to need to set clear expectations (including quality, budget and timeline), provide sufficient resources and support, and incorporate feedback and accountability in your team.