What's Not Happening?"

"The art of communication is the language of leadership." – James Humes

Most times, we ask people, "What's happening?" It's a great question to check in on how people are doing at work or at home. However, it often doesn't give us much insight.

How about spinning it differently and asking, "What's not happening?" This question can generate a lot of discussion, insights, and possible answers.

Let me share a story. I tried this approach with my workshop team during one of our regular meetings. Instead of the usual check-in, I asked, "What's not happening?" At first, there was a moment of silence as everyone processed the question. Then, one by one, they began to open up.

One team member mentioned that they felt their ideas were not being heard during brainstorming sessions. Another shared that they were struggling with balancing their workload and personal life, which was affecting their productivity. Someone else pointed out that there was a lack of clear communication about project goals, leading to confusion and missed deadlines.

As we continued the discussion, more issues surfaced. We talked about the need for better tools and resources, the importance of recognizing and celebrating small wins, and the desire for more team-building activities to strengthen our bond.

This heart-to-heart discussion allowed us to address these concerns openly and honestly. Together, we brainstormed solutions, such as implementing a more inclusive brainstorming process, setting up regular check-ins to discuss workload and well-being, and improving our communication channels.

By the end of the meeting, we had a list of actionable steps to improve our work environment and team dynamics. The simple shift from asking "What's happening?" to "What's not happening?" had made a significant difference.

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." – Peter Drucker

Next time, try this approach. Don't ask, "What's happening?" Ask, "What's not happening?"

Feel free to share with me how your interactions go!