#14: The unlikely question that shifts a team into action
I am obsessed with this one question to get teams out of their funk and into radical action.
So many teams are waiting to get started.
Have you ever found yourselves caught in the endless loop of waiting?
Waiting for executive buy-in
Waiting for engineering support
Waiting for the meeting next week
Waiting for the new hire to start next month.
Meanwhile, the to-do list keeps growing, Slack messages pile up, and every task seems like an uphill battle.
But what if it didn't have to be this way?
The one question
Ask this question to get them into action
What would {this} look like if it were easy?
{this} could be anything:
managing a reduced budget for a product launch
working with that annoying teammate
preparation for the executive shareout
my overwhelming task list
Inspired by Tim Ferris' wisdom in "Tools of Titans," this question has become my mantra. Just saying it aloud can feel like a weight lifting from your shoulders.
Fun fact about David: I kickstart my day with mindfulness readings, including excerpts from this book.
Try the Easy path first. The hard one will always be there
Let me share a recent breakthrough using this powerful question.
Context: I am working on a complex organizational change project with a Fortune 500 company to bring two internal teams to work closer together. There is so much tension between the groups that my sponsor told me “not to even get close to that team” because of all the dysfunction.
At first, we tried to write our own scope of work, have "alignment meetings" with senior stakeholders and other activities that were really hard and time consuming.
So, during a recent meeting with the team sponsor I asked: “What would {working with this team} look like if it were easy?”
The atmosphere shifted. Minds sparked. Shoulders relaxed. We stopped being victims to the situation and instead got into radical action.
So, I am joining an already-planned working session with those two teams next week: an easy path to get started.
And if challenges persist? We'll regroup, ask the question again, and pivot as needed. The path of difficulty with exec buy-in and re-allocated budgets will always be an option, but we’ll continue to explore the path of ease first.
From victims to empowered teammates
Beyond problem-solving and action, this question cultivates confidence. It transforms team members from passive victims in the Drama Triangle to empowered collaborators, eager to tackle challenges head-on. And who wouldn't want a team like that?
Let's break free from the cycle of waiting and embrace the power of ease to propel us forward.