Quick Question: What am I responsible for?
Quick Question
Here is today's quick question for you...What am I responsible for?
Ask it when you're...
Reflecting on your role as a leader - if you’re thinking about bringing out the best in your team, this is a great prompt to focus your leadership efforts
Considering a new role that previously did not exist - this is an opportunity to test the depth of thinking and clarity of the role design
Curious about why customers aren’t engaging with your products/services - an open question like this gives your prospects the opportunity to share the gap between their pain points and your offering.
Listen for...
When listening to responses, try to listen for consistency (who is telling you the same thing) and differences (who is presenting an alternate view and why). Misalignment and inconsistencies make your job harder, so it’s important to identify them early.
Try to listen for:
People and performance - when reflecting on your leadership role, listen for both types of responsibility
Actions and outcomes - what do you need to do? What do you need to deliver?
Insufficient detail - this might suggest that a new role hasn’t been appropriately scoped. It could create design opportunities for you or mean that success is undefined.
This question is a great opportunity to step back and ensure that you’ve designed your own performance standards.
Follow up with...
Sometimes, the greatest value comes from the one extra question you take the time to ask.
In this situation, you could try…
What am I accountable for? How does that change my leadership behaviour?
Will any additional clarity come from me or others?
What might I do differently now that I’ve answered this question?
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