At the start of each new year, I like to draft a letter to employees from management – offering a perspective that brings in the new year in a more significant way. Last’s year’s letter was about asking employees to commit to being better – at work, home and with the planet. By each of us committing to improve in every area of our lives, we can affect significant change.

This year’s letter is about asking questions. See, all the information employees need to show up more significantly in their jobs comes from asking powerful and important questions. Most employees, however, feel that management is supposed to provide all the information, or the workplace culture doesn’t openly encourage employees to challenge or ask. We need their eyes, ears, thoughts and questions to gather information to build an exceptional organization. This year’s letter is about encouraging employees to get good at asking questions and using the information gathered for great action. Please use this with your employees if you like the message.

 

To My Employees,

A new year is here. This is a great time for us to recommit to our organization’s vision, to our customers and to our employees.

Our success happens when we are clear about our direction, have accurate information, then build and implement our plan. All successful plans start with knowing the facts, challenging things that don’t work and inventing new possibilities. To get the facts, we have to become masters at asking powerful and meaningful questions– to expand what we know and to develop new and stronger actions to be extraordinary in 2014.

This year, don’t accept things as they are. Ask how they can be bigger, bolder and better. Ask how you can share ideas with others, invent new things and expand our influence as an organization. Get comfortable asking great questions then using what you learn to make us better.

Here are some examples of questions to ask in the workplace:

1. What is one thing I can do today that will connect me more significantly to my team, solve a challenge, inspire and engage another, save money, invent a new idea, improve my performance, tell our organization’s story, offer feedback, be open to feedback, etc.?

2. How can we make our contact with our customers more of an “event” so they become more impressed and more loyal?

3. What are two ways to save X% from our spending on ___________?

4. What is it that makes our workplace a great place to work, and how can we do more of it? What challenges our workplace as a great place to work and what can we change to improve it?

In this process of asking powerful workplace questions, you will see the value of asking powerful life questions to help you show up more significantly in all aspects of your life. Thank you for your effort, dedication and commitment to excellence.

Wishing you and your families a happy, healthy and successful 2014.

Best regards,

Your Manager