Yesterday, when I wrote this post based on this tweet, I was anticipating reuniting with relatives, many of whom I haven't seen in months, even years. We'd get into what Joe Ferraro, host of the One Percent Better Podcast refers to as, Damn Good Conversations.
Coincidentally (or not) this weekend, I also completed the course, "Asking Damn Good Questions" packed with lessons, exercises, and resources on, what else, but the art of asking questions. This is one of those courses that, because of Joe's conversational nature, the learning soaks right in. The lessons are brief enough in nature to take notes along the way, and maybe best of all, Joe meets course participants where they are, along their journey towards asking better questions and diving more deeply into higher quality conversations.
I went into this asynchronous course expecting it to serve me well in my professional life, conducting interviews and pre- and post-observation conferences. However, it's turned out to be much more. The ideas are only beginning to swirl, as I completed the course today.
See this tweet from Bryan Eisenberg for a (literal) snapshot of the course and click here to participate in the course; you won't be disappointed with your takeaways and what you can apply immediately.
Here are three thoughts marinating in my mind, after this ten lesson course with Joe Ferraro.
How might I increase the number, kinds, and quality of questions I'm asking?
In what ways can I incorporate more high-velocity, more open-ended questions?
In what ways can I honor the quote, "Conversations are a creative act"?
The purpose of this post is not necessarily to answer these questions...at least not now.
However, after a nice weekend, engaging in DGC's with some of my favorite people, and experimenting with asking more DGQ's, I look forward to actively reflecting, the next time I:
Connect with a parent of one of our students (tomorrow morning)
Facilitate a post-observation conference with a teacher (tomorrow afternoon)
Interview a candidate for a staff position (Tuesday)
Strike up casual dialogue with a student (Wednesday)
Serve on an advisory committee or on an interview panel (Thursday)
Practice using better words to ask each of my teenage sons "how his day was" (daily)
Convene with a student leadership team (this month)
Participate in team meetings with teachers, fellow school leaders (this month)
My point is not to list my itinerary for this week (we've all got "things to do"). It's to illustrate how often I will have the opportunity to engage and to practice what I've learned through this course with Joe Ferraro. We're surrounded by opportunities to practice this, and dare I say, strive to get One-Percent Better at a crucial, purpose-enriching life skill.
Best of all, I get to experience conversations, to honor conversations...as a creative act.
Click here to visit the Learning Leadership 365 site, where you may read all posts I've written.
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