While wondering the why, sharing the why, and respecting the why of people, projects and organizations, is tremendously important, knowing the most appropriate way of getting to that why, is absolutely imperative!
The why is the purpose, the why is the drive, and sometimes, with some people, the why is the way.
What is this "Why Ways", then?
Why Ways work like this:
- Think of "why" as purpose, reason, or driver.
- Articulate the why with yourself
- Communicate the why with others
- Do not ask people "Why?", rather get them to the purpose, reason, or driver without the question "Why...(anything)?"
- Ask to understand what the person values, what the person anticipates happening, what the expectations are
- Inquire to learn how the person sees the outcome, how the person arrived at the decision, how to move forward
The Why Ways are a lot about the ways of the whys, meaning the way why questions impact us.
Even though gaining insight into the "why" empowers us, the act of being asked "Why?" does not. Instead, that quick quip of judging tone and impression makes us feel as though explaining, or even defending, is in order when the seemingly simple inquisitive word "Why?" is posed as a question.
Embracing the importance of WHY without creating an environment that can lose sight of the reason and purpose is possible, and with consistency, even probable!
