What is the ideal situation?

For many reasons people don’t like to be criticised. Although criticism is mostly made with good intentions, it leads often to counter attacks of defensiveness. Both making it difficult to reach a good conclusion.

Here is new approach. The principle it to firstly ask your staff ‘What would be the ideal situation?’ As this question is very neutral, it normally leads to a decent response. Then follow up by asking ‘What could you contribute to achieve the ideal situation?’ A much better approach for constructive suggestions coming up.

Example: A staff shows continuously a disruptive behaviour during meetings. Ask ‘How should an ideal meeting take place and what should be the expected results?’ And then ‘How could you contribute to achieve this?”

Example: A staff is not good in team working. Ask ‘How could a team achieve best possible results and create a pleasant working atmosphere?’ And then ‘What could you contribute to this?