When managing a team, it is crucial that everyone is on the same page and feels heard when it comes to departmental strategies. Asking questions to understand why some of the team members might not agree with certain strategies shows that you value everyone’s input. If you completely miss this, you will have a lot of difficult subordinates. That is not nice.
Forcing strategies onto your team without considering their perspectives can have negative consequences. You will come across as this monster dictator. It can lead to disengagement, resentment, and a lack of commitment from team members. When employees feel their voices are not heard or their ideas are not valued, morale and productivity can suffer. As the manager, you will be held accountable by your superiors. It is you who is going to look bad.
If that ship has sailed for you and you already have difficult subordinates because they do not agree with your strategies, here are 5 crucial questions that you need to ask in order to get the ship back on track.
1. What specific aspects of the current strategies do you disagree with, and why?
This question helps pinpoint exactly where the disagreement lies, allowing you to address specific concerns rather than making assumptions.
2. How do you think these strategies could be improved or changed to better meet our department’s goals?
By asking for suggestions on improvement, you invite constructive feedback and potentially uncover new, more effective strategies.
3. Have you observed any challenges or obstacles that make it difficult to implement these strategies effectively?
Knowing about challenges helps you assess the feasibility of your strategies and identify areas where additional support or adjustments may be necessary.
4. Are there alternative approaches or ideas you believe would be more effective? If so, what are they and why do you think they would work better?
This question encourages creative thinking and may reveal innovative solutions or strategies that hadn’t been considered.
5. What support or resources do you think are necessary to successfully execute these strategies, and do you feel you currently have access to them?
Understanding resource requirements helps you evaluate the feasibility of implementing alternative strategies and ensures your team has the necessary support for success.
You can send these questions out as a survey or you can do face to face. It is entirely up to you. Please do not forget to drop a like.
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