An eight-year-old boy was not doing well in Math. So his dad hired a tutor and asked him, “How many drills will you give my son so that he will learn?”
The wise tutor asked back, “What makes you think drills are the answer?”
See, the parent was assuming that all his boy needed was practice. But when the tutor checked the boy’s skills, he found out that the boy’s problem was that he didn’t understand the equations.
So through patient explanations and creative exercises, the tutor brought the boy to grasp the math principles. The boy’s grades began to improve.
Can you imagine had the tutor took the parent’s word for granted?
Can you imagine the torture upon the boy, being made to practice, practice, practice on what he had a weak foundation to begin with?
This is the power of Explain Then Answer (ETA). When someone asks you a question, don’t answer right away. A better approach is to explore first what is driving the person to ask you that question. Who knows, what that person’s need may not be new information, but transformed thinking.
What makes ETA a worthwhile practice?
First, you will come across as showing curiosity and empathy. We all know that in today’s marketplace, skills on communication, critical thinking, and collaboration are highly prized. Part of that is to be open-minded and sensitive. Engaging in an enlightening conversation, done with psychological safety, is a valuable lubricant in human interaction.
Second, you will surface assumptions. From our story, it was clear that the parent presupposed that what his math-challenged boy needed was relentless practice. When you are asked a question, especially when it involves strategy, take time to uncover the thinking behind it. That way, you can spot flawed reasoning and unverified assumptions. Correcting them at the onset will save you costly misunderstanding and mistakes.
Third, you will seek better solutions. When flawed thinking is exposed, the door is open for sharper clarity, analysis and problem-solving. As you are asked for your opinion or advice, resist the urge to blurt out knee-jerk answers. Instead, take time to surmise the drivers behind the question so you can frame better answers.
In the next post, I will share what those drivers would be.
April 25, 2023
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