#MiPDV – Meeting Someone With World Class Skills

Some time ago I had the opportunity to meet someone who was known to have world-class skills.

?Not only are they known nationally for their skills, this person is known globally for their skills and expertise. Experts across the globe look to this person for leadership and advice.?

While I’ve met musicians who are arguably the best at their instrument, this was the first time I’d met someone who was considered the best in technology and scientific arenas.

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Then I found out that this person was known for their skills in more than a dozen subject areas!?

They are formally trained in one area yet built expertise in all the other areas – to the extent that they have served as editor or multiple technical journals over the years.?

We were scheduled for a lunchtime meeting. I planned to spend the time asking about their background and how they developed expertise in so many areas.?

I didn’t get the chance.?

Why??

This person spent most of the time asking me questions.?

It was puzzling … why would they ask me questions? After all, they are the expert, and I wanted to learn from them.?

Then I realized that’s how they became so skilled!?

• They are insatiably curious.?
• They ask questions. Lots and lots of questions.?
• They ask follow up questions.?
• They dig deeper and deeper until their curiosity is satisfied … at least for the moment.?

That was the lesson for me – to be curious. To ask questions. To dig deeper and deeper so that you can broaden your skills set.?

Not to answer questions.?

Leaders, how about you? Do you ask questions, or do you typically answer them??

Do you encourage team members to ask questions? Or do they think they need to answer questions??

Especially with customers, it is crucial to ask questions. And sometimes we need to remind our team members – especially newer team members – to ask more questions than they answer.

Because that's how we learn.?

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That’s mi punto de vista #MiPDV.

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