The Three Most Powerful Letters: Ask

The Three Most Powerful Letters

in StartupShay Colson - Director, West Coast Relationships

iSchool @ Syracuse University

Three Little Letters

Deceptively Simple,

Incredibly Powerful

ask

Three Letters, Three Phases

(1) before

(2) during

(3) after

(4) there is no number four

ASK process

ask

What?Why? Where

?Who?When?How?

ACTION!

(1) before (2) during (3) after

}{

(1) before

•Asking forces introspection.

•Asking as scenario planning or hypothetical exploration.

•Asking as a prioritization tool.

(2) during

•Asking provides reason for approach, a point of entry - “Hey, I’ve got a question for you.”

•Asking creates space for dialogue, interaction, conversation.

•Asking merits a response - even if it’s “no.”

(3) after

•Asking forces action. Period.

•You asked. They answered (or didn’t).

•Now what?

Questions? Comments?

•e: sccolson@syr.edu

•t: @shaycolson

•here, now