How Asking the Right Questions Can Help Managers with Autism
Autism can be a challenge for managers, but asking the right questions can help. Learn how to be a better manager with these 9 questions from a successful bootstrapped team that achieved a $200M+ exit.
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Patrick Campbell
Bootstrapped and sold @profitwell for over $200M to @paddlehq. Deep expertise in pricing, retention, and high output management. How can I help?
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We bootstrapped a team to a $200M+ exit.
— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023
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.
๐งต -
People you manage will complain about one another. It's human.
— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023
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? -
You will have to give feedback as a manager.
— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023
The worst way is to just say what's good and bad. I've done this countless times ๐.
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. -
Great managers check in with their team often.
— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023
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. -
Good leaders set expectations and define ownership.
— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023
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 -
Well, back to the analyst cave.
— Patrick Campbell (@Patticus) June 15, 2023
Huge thanks to @shreyas and Andy Grove who I picked some of these up from.
If you found this helpful, you should retweet the thread below. It's greatly appreciated.
Any other questions you use to communicate better?https://t.co/82DXxfcLxI