Three Powerful Questions

I recently had the privilege of attending the 12^th Annual Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Performance Excellence (MAAPE) Conference. There were many excellent presentations by recent Baldrige and MAPPE Award recipients. Through a coincidence of scheduling two Baldrige Award recipients spoke in successive plenary sessions, one in the evening and the next as the plenary speaker the following morning. The speakers were 2016 Baldrige Award recipients Greg Haralson from Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital and Maryruth Butler from Kindred Nursing & Rehabilitation.

Each of them shared simple questions used in their respective organizations to spur thinking about personal and organizational improvement and innovation. I realized that combining their three questions provided a powerful set for all organizations to use in their performance improvement efforts. The three questions:

What If?  Why Not Us?  Why Not Me?

I began to think about the power of these three questions as a mantra to preface discussions of process change and improvement, strategic planning, employee engagement, and, in general, for any brainstorming session. They could also become a powerful motivator in new employee on-boarding sessions, followed by some examples of exciting past achievements in the organization. What an approach to quickly energizing new employees!

I also thought about using these three questions as motivators before answering questions in the Baldrige Excellence Builder (that are also key questions in the Baldrige Criteria). To cite a few examples, consider them as preambles to: 1.1(4) How do senior leaders’ actions create an environment for success now and in the future?; 2.1(2) How does your strategy development process stimulate and incorporate innovation?; 3.1(1) How do you determine product offerings?; and, 5.2(1) How do you foster an organizational culture that is characterized by open communication, high performance, and an engaged workforce?

I had actually heard these three questions before in sessions at the Baldrige Quest for Excellence conference in April 2017. I had even included the questions in different sections of my Insights column on my key learnings from the April conference. However, I must thank the MAAPE for the serendipity of bring these speakers together and allowing me to associate these questions into my new mantra!

And speaking of the Baldrige Quest for Excellence conference , the 2017 award recipients were recently announced. They will be presenting their performance excellence successes at the 30^th Anniversary Quest for Excellence Conference, April 8-11, 2018.  Come hear the newest Baldrige winners and celebrate the Program’s 30^th anniversary. I look forward to seeing you there. Until then, keep asking: What If?  Why Not Us?  Why Not Me?” 

COME. LEARN. NETWORK. ENGAGE.