Dorothy Leeds > Quotes

“If you ask a negative, unanswerable question, you will get a negative, impractical answer. The question you ask determines the focus of your thinking, your focus determines your attitude, and your attitude determines your ability to take action.”
― Dorothy Leeds, The 7 Powers of Questions: Secrets to Successful Communication in Life and at Work

“On the negative side, this constant question/ thought continuum can turn into worry. Worry is the uneasy or anxious feeling we get when our questions cannot be readily answered. We go over past events and ask ourselves, "Why did I say that?" or "Why didn't I do that?" We think about our loved ones when they're not around and wonder, "Why hasn't he called yet?" or "When will she be home?" or "Has something horrible happened?" The broader the question ("Why am I so unhappy?" Or "What should I do with the rest of my life?"), the more difficult it is to answer and the more anxiety it produces.”
― Dorothy Leeds, The 7 Powers of Questions: Secrets to Successful Communication in Life and at Work

“Managers are always saying they want their people to think more, yet they do not always encourage them to do that. That is because most managers think they have to have all the answers, rather than most of the questions. If you consistently tell people what to do, you foster the telling culture most organizations display and you stifle their thinking habits.”
― Dorothy Leeds, The 7 Powers of Questions: Secrets to Successful Communication in Life and at Work