Minute With Mallon: Don't Ask the Question!!

Aug 21

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

A few months ago, I was coaching a client named Mark. We were talking about communication—specifically, how asking the wrong question at the wrong time can get you an answer you may not be ready to hear.

I told him one of my favorite sayings:

"If you don’t want to know the answer, don’t ask the question."

Years back when I was in corporate America, I used that saying often. Sometimes the less said, (or asked), the better.

He wrote it down and put it where he could see it on his desk each day.

It stuck with him.

A few weeks later, he told me about two situations where he used it at work:

First, with his boss.

Mark was frustrated with a new policy. He started to ask, “Do you even realize how this affects our team?” but caught himself. If his boss said, “Yes, and I’m fine with it,” that would have shut down the conversation and built a wall between them. Instead, he reframed the question and asked, “Can I share some feedback on how the policy is playing out in our department?” That question opened the door to a productive conversation instead of a dead end.

That's a win! 👊🏻

Second, with an employee.

Next, one of his team members was struggling with hitting deadlines. He was about to ask, “Do you even care about hitting your dates?” But then he remembered the saying. If the employee answered “No, I don’t” it would have been a damaging dead end. Instead, he asked, “What’s getting in the way of you meeting these deadlines?” That question led to a discussion about workload and resources, and they found a fix.

Mark told me that one simple saying has helped him slow down, choose his words carefully, and ask questions that lead to solutions instead of sparks.

So here’s the takeaway: Before you ask a question, ask yourself—do I really want to know the answer, and will it help us move forward?

If not—don't ask!

Something to Ponder:

"You will love whatever you pour your heart into. Passion follows commitment."

James Clear

Something I Learned:

A couple of weeks ago I was working with a group of leaders within a company. We were discussing the fact that according to multiple surveys, having is purpose and meaning are the #1 motivator of employees in our country.
I read them these examples which I found in the book Who, Not How:

"There is a famous story of when President John F. Kennedy visited NASA headquarters for the first time in 1961. While touring the facility, he introduced himself to a janitor who was mopping the floor and asked him what he did at NASA. The janitor’s reply was both surprising and inspiring. “I’m helping put a man on the moon!” he told the president. That janitor wasn’t just cleaning toilets; he was a part of something bigger, something incredibly important."

"Without purpose, your work can become shallow because it is solely about making money. When driven by purpose, you stop doing the minimum required. You really go deep within yourself. You become a creator. You become willing to go above and beyond the “call of duty.” You put your soul into your work. You genuinely seek to address the particular problem you’re trying to solve. You genuinely care about the people you’re serving."

So we spent the rest of our hour together discussing ways to help their employees connect with their true purpose!

Do you know yours? If not, I can help!