Questions that cause change.

© 2012. A4LW, LLC. All rights reserved.

If I had an hour to solve a

problem and my life depended

on the solution, I would spend

the first 55 minutes

determining the proper

question to ask, for once I

know the proper question, I

could solve the problem in less

than 5 minutes.”

Albert Einstein

“

How we normally solve problems.

Compare that to Einstein.

55 55

5 5

Einstein Normal

Time spent finding a solution

Time spent asking the right questions

Ever discover that the wrong problem was

solved?

To solve the right problem, what if we

learned how to ask the right questions?

We need to solve problems everyday.

Problems at work and at home.

Solving a problem requires action.

Each action leads to another.

Each action also requires change.

Change is…

Change is simply an

increase or decrease of something.

Parker A. Grant

Co-Founder, Qcozz

Thomas R. Snyder

Co-Founder, Qcozz

Therefore, to solve a problem,

something has to increase or decrease.

Parker A. Grant

Co-Founder, Qcozz

Thomas R. Snyder

Co-Founder, Qcozz

We use increases and decreases in our

language every day…

Parker A. Grant

Co-Founder, Qcozz

Thomas R. Snyder

Co-Founder, Qcozz

…and we are not even aware of it!

Parker A. Grant

Co-Founder, Qcozz

Thomas R. Snyder

Co-Founder, Qcozz

We speak “increase” in many ways.

We get wordy with “decrease” too.

Let’s decrease clutter of the mind. Here is

a framework for solving problems.

Problem Solution

change

asks answers

what is

needed to

is either

The problem is defined with a question,

not with a statement.

Problem

What needs to increase or decrease?

Sample question that defines the problem

of lackluster revenue.

Q: What will increase revenue?

A solution is defined as the answer of

what needs to change.

Solution

Something needs to increase or decrease.

Sample answer to problem of lackluster

revenue.

Q: What will increase revenue?

A: Increase internet marketing.

Multiple answers also define a possible

solution to the same problem.

Q: What will increase revenue?

A: Increase internet marketing.

A: Decrease bureaucracy.

A: Increase listening to client.

A: Decrease late afternoon calls.

Another way to visualize this. Simpler.

Q: What will revenue?

A: internet marketing

A: bureaucracy

A: listening to client

A: late afternoon calls

Ask more people. Get more answers.

Q: What will revenue?

A: internet marketing

A: bureaucracy

A: listening to client

A: late afternoon calls

A: video marketing

A: product prices

A: #of wholesalers

A: conversion rates

A: functional silos

A: product throughput

A: backlogs

A: pipeline

A: churn rates

A: #of target accounts

Maybe you find a better question to ask.

Q: What will revenue?

A: internet marketing

A: bureaucracy

A: listening to client

A: late afternoon calls

A: video marketing

A: product prices

A: #of wholesalers

A: conversion rates

A: functional silos

A: product throughput

A: backlogs

A: pipeline

A: churn rates

A: #of target accounts

Now you have a better question to ask.

Get more answers.

Q: What will churn rates?

A: client communication

A: delays in responding to client

A: personal calls to clients

A: # of software bugs

A: product alignment to client processes

A: client dissatisfaction

A: loyalty & affinity programs for clients

Maybe you finally find the ‘right’ question

to ask.

Q: What will churn rates?

A: client communication

A: delays in responding to client

A: personal calls to clients

A: # of software bugs

A: product alignment to client processes

A: client dissatisfaction

A: loyalty & affinity programs for clients

Ask the ‘right’ question, get a better

solution.

Q: What will # of software bugs?

A: use of available libraries

A: fancy coding

A: peer review of codes

A: # of lines of code

A: use of compiler warnings

A: conditional behaviors in code

A: automated testing of code

Back to Einstein: 55 minutes to ask right

questions. 5 minutes to solve problem.

5

55

Now introducing the tool that

helps you ask

questions that cause change…

Welcome to Qcozz

Create your own Q&A site.

Ask a question. What needs to

increase or decrease?

Answer a question. Something

has to increase or decrease.

Add a link that supports your

answer. Increases credibility.

Add a comment to your answer.

Increases perspective.

Make your answer automatically

become next question.

New question from previous

answer – automatically posted.

Solution path to original question.

Share your question to get more

answers. They all speak change.

Try Qcozz today – a simple, but powerful

way to ask questions that cause change.

Image Sources

Flickr.com Wordle.net Slide 02 – mansionwb Slide 35 – Parker Grant

Slide 04 – Bosc d’Anjou Slide 36 – Parker Grant

Slide 05 – Stefan Baudy

Slide 06 – music2work2

Slide 07 – photosteve101

Slide 08 – Zach Klein

Slide 09 – bark

Slide 10 – mikebaird

Slide 11 – zerojay

Slide 12 – colros

Slide 13 – Marshall Astor

Slide 14 – barryskeates

Slide 15 – jacilluch