Management Tip of the Day: Don’t Get Defensive, Ask Questions

When you are criticized or told "no," your instinct may be to immediately fight back and defend your position or project. Next time you face resistance, instead of articulating all the reasons why you are right or why your project should be funded, ask a few simple questions. Questions like, "Why did you say that?" or "What led you to that conclusion?" can help the other person rethink his assumptions and help you understand more about where he is coming from. Asking questions allows you to get beyond the immediate disagreement and deeper into what is driving each side.