University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Ask
Book

Ask

Tap into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life

Jeff Wetzler
Hachette Go, 2024
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Engaging
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Can you read minds? Most people overestimate their telepathic abilities and often make false assumptions about what other people think, feel, and know. Fortunately, Jeff Wetzler, the chief learning officer at Teach for America, has developed an applicable approach to help you accurately read people by facilitating more honest and meaningful discourse. Wetzler’s Ask Approach will teach you how to pose questions that trigger truthful moments of exchange and give you the tools you need to listen to — and learn from — what others share with you.

Summary

Get better at discerning people’s hidden thoughts and feelings with the Ask Approach.

When a 2011 poll asked Americans which superpower they wish they had, the top responses were mind-reading and time travel. While time travel is currently impossible, with the right approach to interpersonal communication, you can improve your mind-reading skills. Knowing where you stand with clients, colleagues, friends, and family can be tricky, especially as many people frequently withhold their thoughts and feelings. Thus, what they say often differs from their true opinions and beliefs. For example, a client might tell you they’d be happy to set up another meeting with you, while their inner dialogue says, “You’ve got to be kidding! We met three times last week alone!” Research shows that withholding vital information is pervasive in the workplace: More than 85% of workers admit that they failed to voice concerns to their bosses about issues they felt were important.

People withhold four kinds of information: their challenges and bugbears, their true beliefs and feelings, their candid feedback and suggestions, and their...

About the Author

Jeff Wetzler is the co-CEO of Transcend, an education innovation organization, and a former chief learning officer at Teach For America. He’s a global management consultant and has a PhD in adult learning and leadership from Columbia University. He is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow.

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