Have you ever lost clarity on the way to your vision? You feel like you need the answers. Before you can gain they clarity you want, you need to take a preliminary step: you need to ask the right questions.
Your ability to ask yourself powerful questions will allow you to uncover thoughts and feelings that influence your ability to be successful. You don’t just answer the questions; you explore them. Exploration is not an interview. It’s an inner view.
There are three steps to exploring your “inner view.”
Step 1: Identify the Topic
As your first step to getting clarity, you identify the topic. What do you need to get clear about? What’s the issue, challenge, desire or goal that’s worth exploring now? What is your purpose for seeking clarity at this time? It could be a decision about your career, a particular outcome for a project, or a new way to approach a goal. You are going on an exploration; think of this step as defining the territory.
Step 2: Ask Open-Ended Questions
Once you’ve defined the territory you want to explore, you mentally walk around in it, allowing your mind to wander around as you find out what there is to know. You do this by asking open-ended questions.
Perhaps the most obvious place to start is with the all-powerful question, “What do you want?”
Here are some more questions to help you see what else there is to learn as you explore.
• What are the biggest challenges you face?
• What’s the best-case scenario? What’s the worst-case scenario?
• How would you like to see this play out?
• What else is there to know?
Open-ended questions like these help you find what else is important to you to keep in mind.
Step 3: Explore the Answers
After you have an idea of what you want and some questions to stir your thinking, give yourself time to explore your ideas. This could take the form of journaling, discussion with a trusted friend, colleague or advisor, or quiet reflection. Exploration (especially self-exploration) is a process. Give it time.
Remember: You don’t have to have all the answers. But you do have to ask the questions.
And for a free resource to guide your thinking, use the worksheet, Your Inner View. A copy of this worksheet is also available on the website (www.theinneredge.com).
Please join us for The Inner Edge Book Club! This month we will be taking a more in-depth look into of Your Inner View as one powerful strategy for gaining better clarity in your life and leadership. For more information, click here or email info@TheInnerEdge.com.