If you are a leader (or are aspiring to become one), you'll need to manage people efficiently and effectively. This involves "framing" yourself as a commander instead of as a peer or as a mere moderator. One of the ways that a leader stands out from the crowd is that he or she does not make requests by asking -- he or she makes requests which are always worded as orders.
Instead of asking "Would you do this for me?", a leader who is truly in the proper posture of command will tell a subordinate "I need for you to do this for me. Your time frame to complete this is three business days, starting and including today. If you have any questions, I'll expect you to ask them of me as quickly as they come up, in the interests of meeting the deadline. Thank you." -- and then, following the dismissive "thank you", the leader will be silent and maintain eye contact.
There is power in telling instead of asking. If you ask, you leave yourself vulnerable to the other person's response and questioning; if you tell, you are delivering a command from a position of knowledge (of what needs to be done, how and when), and strength (as in citing your expectation instead of asking for permission).
If you are taking command -- and you should put yourself in the position of command at every possible occasion -- you must remember: Don't ask... Tell! People who ask are open to rejection , while people who tell exude more confidence and an expectation of cooperation from the person with whom they are communicating.
Thank you as always for reading me.
Douglas E. Castle
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TAKING COMMAND! ACHIEVING YOUR OBJECTIVES.
http://takingcommand.blogspot.com
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