I just got a new job and my boss is really terrible at Being Specific. At first I wasn’t worried because I figured I would just force him to Be Specific by asking precise questions. I felt like my questions were awesome but I still wasn’t getting the information I needed out of him and I couldn’t figure out why.
I was super excited when I figured it out: he was interrupting me in the middle of my questions and giving an answer to a question he was imagining. I tried talking through him and finishing my question when he interrupted me and it worked. He answered my actual question. So I now have a tactic to elicit the information I need from him. I’ve only tried it the once so far and I’m curious to see if this will work in the future or if he’ll catch on and let me finish my questions.
Neat, but seems nonoptimal to have to talk over people. Can you perhaps restructure your questions to not make any sense until the precise part is delivered?
Like “Can you tell me any good stores around here—that sell cars—specifically red ones?” could be transformed to “I am looking for a red car. Are there any good stores around here for that?”
I’ll try out your technique next time I have that problem.
I just got a new job and my boss is really terrible at Being Specific. At first I wasn’t worried because I figured I would just force him to Be Specific by asking precise questions. I felt like my questions were awesome but I still wasn’t getting the information I needed out of him and I couldn’t figure out why.
I was super excited when I figured it out: he was interrupting me in the middle of my questions and giving an answer to a question he was imagining. I tried talking through him and finishing my question when he interrupted me and it worked. He answered my actual question. So I now have a tactic to elicit the information I need from him. I’ve only tried it the once so far and I’m curious to see if this will work in the future or if he’ll catch on and let me finish my questions.
Neat, but seems nonoptimal to have to talk over people. Can you perhaps restructure your questions to not make any sense until the precise part is delivered?
Like “Can you tell me any good stores around here—that sell cars—specifically red ones?” could be transformed to “I am looking for a red car. Are there any good stores around here for that?”
I’ll try out your technique next time I have that problem.