Questions That Work: How to Ask Questions That Will Help You Succeed in Any Business Situation

AORN Journal,  August, 2005  by Pearl Cunningham

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Questions That Work: How to Ask Questions That Will Help You Succeed in Any Business Situation Andrew Finlayson 2001, 366 pp $17.95 softcover

Effective communication is extremely important in health care. The author of this book proposes that effective communication is achieved largely by inquiring with intent and knowing what to look for, where to look, and what to do with the answers. Safe patient care depends on health care providers who are prepared to ask appropriate questions.

Written by an award-winning journalist and manager, this book is targeted to general business situations, but it is not difficult to apply the information to the most complex business--health care. The collection of questions, described as a how-to guide, is the result of the author's 20-year career as a journalist. He relies heavily on his experiences of gaining information by knowing the right questions and when to ask them.

The information is well organized, and each of the six parts of the book can be used independently. The chapters are well-defined, allowing topics to be easily located at a later date. Lengthy references are listed at the end of the book in 18 pages of notes.

In part I, "A questioning manifesto," the author encourages critical thinking and discovery using focused, pertinent questions. He also reminds readers not to drop the ball when asking questions--asking the right follow-up questions is as important as asking the right question in the first place. The author also gives readers suggestions of what to do with the answers to questions. The challenge posed to readers in part I is to develop a culture of questioning in themselves and their organizations by encouraging meaningful inquiry.

The bulleted "Questions to ask" in parts II through VI cover specific situations, such as what to ask in an interview, how to ask for a raise, and what to ask when you apply to graduate school, start a job, or are dismissed from a job. Though some of the questions could be considered mundane, they are the very questions that may be overlooked.

The book contains helpful information for anyone in business, and it would be particularly useful to health care professionals entering the workforce. The final chapters focus on what the author calls "being on your own." Parts V and VI, on crisis management and leadership, would be beneficial to anyone, especially individuals in entry-level management positions.

This book is available from AMACOM, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

PEARL CUNNINGHAM

RN, BSN, MBA, CNOR

ASSISTANT NURSE MANAGER

BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL

BOSTON

COPYRIGHT 2005 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group