Want to get more from your people, but you don't know how? Are you up for a small challenge and prepared to do things a little differently? If so, we have five changes to your style that you will find easy to incorporate into the way you work and your people will love you for it; you will have more time and your business will flourish.

Think about it - is that not worth just the little effort required?

1. Stop Fixing Things
   Next time someone comes to you with a problem in your business, STOP, before you give the solution and try the next step.
   
2. Ask them
   For more information - ask it as an open question, start with words like:-
   
   
   • What?
     
   • How?
     
   • When?
     
   • Who?
     
   • Where?
   
   You can even ask Why?, if you don't make it too intimidating.
   
   Three particular favourites of mine are:-
   
   "Tell me more about that...", "What have you tried already?" and "What do you think?"
   
   
3. Listen
   Their answers will tell you a lot - you've gone to the trouble of asking, so listen to the answers. Here's a big tip - once they stop talking, leave a space for them to say more - they usually will and in that second burst, often comes the revealing solution for them!
4. Ask More
   When they finally run out of steam, ask them another open question. This time about something they have just told you. Listen hard and the right question will come to you (note - there are no 'wrong' questions to ask!).
   
5. And Finally
   During the discussion they will have processed their own ideas and solutions. You can then give them licence to give their ideas a try, with a "Do you want to try that and let me know how it goes?"
   

Martin Haworth

Thanks for taking a look at me! I work with people to help them realise their potential and make the most of their life. I also help managers to get the very best from their people, to make their businesses, teams, departments, whatever, to be successful.

Usually this is through my 'Coaching Managers to Coach' workshops, delivered worldwide, which includes experiential and hot-seat coaching for all participants - a great, fun learning experience. Click the big green link panel on any of the website pages!

There are over 1000 hints and tips, and that doesn't include the blog, which is updated pretty well daily, if not more often!

With a background in team management of groups from 6-300 and a great ICF coaching accreditation, I reckon I'm almost unique in my experience and training to make this work for you.

So take a look, checkout my other articles and maybe even set the blog page as a favourite:-) And, you know, if you want to get in touch, give me a call. I'll talk about almost anything, but I love helping people make the best of their workplace. Or e-mail me through the contact page on the site.

Ooops, I nearly forgot, I do manager soft-skills analysis with a programme called 'Intercept' and if you just want some one-to-one business coaching, I do that too. There's also a button on the navigation bar on the website pages for that too.

Fees, well, let me see, can I say that we can work something out? That's the way I work.

Thanks for happening by!

Martin