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<b style="color: blue">Human Resource Associates</b>
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<h2>HR - On The Job</h2>
<h3>You're Asking The Wrong Questions</h3>
<p>“When are they going to straighten this mess out?” “Why don't they hire someone who knows what they're doing?” “Who screwed this job up?” “Why can't they bring in more customers?”</p>
<p>These are the kinds of questions we tend to ask when we encounter problems. You may have asked one or more of them this week yourself.</p>
<p>Did you get an answer that solved the problem? Probably not. Answers to these questions seldom solve the problem because they’re the wrong questions. All of them require someone else to do something. To get to the right answers we need to start with the right questions. The right questions should have three things in them. They are:</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Ask “what” or “how”</b>, <em>not</em> “who” “why” or “when”. </li>
<li><b>Use the term “I”</b>, <em>not</em> “they”, “them”, “we” or “you”.</li>
<li><b>Focus on action</b>. The prime question then comes down to “What can I do about this now?” And then do it.</li>
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<p>Stop the circle of blame by framing the question differently. Who’s to blame? No one, not even yourself. Forget about who to attack and ask “How can I make this right now?”</p>
<p>Wrong questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>“When will they start delivering materials on time?”</li>
<li>“Why do these customers expect so much?”</li>
<li>“Why don’t people just follow instructions?”</li>
</ul>
<p>The right question:</p>
<ul>
<li>“What can I do to help?”</li>
</ul>
<p>Wrong questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Why can’t those salespeople stay within our capabilities?”</li>
<li>“Why can’t those field guys follow the specs?”</li>
</ul>
<p>The right question:</p>
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<li>“How can I better understand the challenges they face in the field?”</li>
</ul>
<p>Wrong questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Why doesn’t this younger generation want to work?”</li>
<li>“Why aren’t these people motivated?”</li>
<li>“Why can’t they get to work on time?”</li>
</ul>
<p>The right question:</p>
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<li>“How can I be a more effective coach?”</li>
</ul>
<p>Wrong questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Why do they dislike me so much?”</li>
<li>“Why do I have to do everything myself?”</li>
</ul>
<p>The right question:</p>
<ul>
<li>“How can I be a better partner?”</li>
</ul>
<p>Sometimes you need to ask someone else that question.</p>
<p>In John Miller’s book “QBQ The Question Behind The Question”, he says, “Long range vision and strategic planning are great tools. But I need to get something done before lunch.” Ask things like “How can I accomplish what is needed with the resources I have now?”</p>
<p>Once you’ve framed the right question and you know what you need to do, focus on action. Sometimes that takes courage or at least confidence, you may even see it as a risk. Take the risk! Ultimately the risk of doing nothing is a dead end.</p>
<p><b>Action</b> brings learning and growth even when it leads to mistakes.<br>Inaction leads to stagnation and atrophy.</p>
<p><b>Action</b> may require courage but<br>inaction is based on fear.</p>
<p><b>Action</b> builds confidence.<br>Inaction builds doubt.</p>
<p>As John Miller said, “It’s better to be the one who is told to wait then to be the one who waits to be told.” Action is not just about knowing what to do, but doing what you know.</p>
<p>So stop “we-theying” yourself to a standstill. It's about “What can I do now?” It's about taking personal responsibility.</p>
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<p align="center"><b><i>Have an employment question?</i></b></p>
<p align="center">Send it to <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=From HR On The Job">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p align="center">Please include Company Name and Association in your e-mail. Company identification will be kept confidential.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><sub>© William J. Cook</sub></p>
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<span class="heading">Labor Stats</span>
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<b>Federal Minimum Wage</b>
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<b>$7.25</b>/hour<br />
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<b>Average Income</b>
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<tr><td /><td class="u">September 2013</td><td class="u">September 2014<td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Hourly</td><td class="b">$24.06</td><td class="b">$24.53</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Weekly</td><td class="b">$830.07</td><td class="b">$848.74</td></tr>
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<b>Federal Povery Level</b>
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<tr><td class="i">one person</td><td class="b">$11,670</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">family of four</td><td class="b">$23,850</td></tr>
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<b>IRS Mileage Allowance</b>
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<tr><td class="i">business</td><td><b>56</b> cents/mile</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">medical or moving</td><td><b>23.5</b> cents/mile</b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">charitable</td><td><b>14</b> cents/mile</td></tr>
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<b>Postage</b>
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<tr><td class="i">1 oz</td><td><b>49</b> cents</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">postcard</td><td><b>34</b> cents</td></tr>
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<b>Population</b>
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<tr><td class="i">U.S.</td><td class="b">319 Million</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">world</td><td class="b">7.2 Billion</td></tr>
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<i>one birth every </i><b>8</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>one death every </i><b>13</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>one new immigrant every </i><b>40</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>net gain of one person every </i><b>15</b><i> seconds.</i>
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<b>U.S. Civilian Workforce</b>
<p>(Counts are in units of one million.)
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<tr><td /><td class="u">September 2013</td><td class="u">September 2014</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Total</td><td class="b">155.9</td><td class="b">155.9</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Employed</td><td class="b">144.2</td><td class="b">146.6</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Unemployed</td><td class="b">11.2</td><td class="b">9.3</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Want A Job</td><td class="b">6.1</td><td class="b">6.3</td></tr>
<tr><td class="i">Unemployment Rate</td><td class="b">6.7%</td><td class="b">5.9%</td></tr>
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