How Asking the Right Questions Can Help Managers with Autism

We bootstrapped a team to a $200M+ exit.

One thing almost ruined it all - my autism.

I had to work harder than most at communicating (and continue to fail a lot), but I found a good hack:

Asking the right questions.

Here are 9 questions I use to be a better manager.

🧵

— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023

People you manage will complain about one another. It's human.

The *worst* response is to try to solve the problem right away.

It creates drama triangles.

Instead ask:
1. If I asked the person A, would they describe this the same way?
2. Have you tried talking to them?

— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023

You will have to give feedback as a manager.

The worst way is to just say what's good and bad. I've done this countless times 🙈.

Instead ask:
1. What do you think is great about this? Why?
2. What's not so great? Why?

Frames and sparks the perfect discussion.

— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023

Great managers check in with their team often.

Yet, we ask loose questions like: "how are you doing?" It's too subjective and requires high EQ.

Instead ask.
1. On a scale of -1, 0, 1, 2 how are you doing? Why?
2. Where are you usually?

I find this results in more transparency.

— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023

Good leaders set expectations and define ownership.

Great leaders let their teams set these.

But teams aren't always great at this, so ask:

1. What does good look like?
2. Who's making decisions?
3. When are we making decisions by?

I find these fuel performance and agency

— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023