How 4 Weird Questions Congress Asked Made Me A Better Business Person

 When I woke up today, I secretly wished the Facebook Congressional hearings were FAKE news or that Ashton Kutcher would magically interrupt to share how we just got “punked”.

I tried. I mean, I REALLY tried to listen with the intent of learning from the questions that our US Congress asked Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg. And then I pondered…

Do we really pay those who represent us to appear as if they are in some kind of time warp? A time that existed before social platforms, Internet or cell phones?

True story, an EPIC mistake of sharing the personal data of millions of people demands research. Truer story, 44 Senators had an exceptional opportunity to do that and then skillfully create questions for Mark Zuckerberg that would create accountability and elevate responsibility.

Instead, this is what was asked:

• Is Twitter the same as what you do?
• How do you sustain a business model in which users don’t pay for a service?
• My son is dedicated to Instagram so he’d want to be sure I mentioned him while I was here with you.
• What if I don’t want to receive ads for chocolate?

These questions make you and I better people in 3 ways.

• Know your audience. You are accountable to research their product, service, event, or company. You must review that research into a reflection of relevance during the many conversations and preparations of your working relationship.
• Keep your parental gushing out of dedicated business time. It isn’t “everyone gets a trophy time”. This is business. BE actively engaged in the discovery of how you can add value for your client’s success.
• Step back and pause before you ask a question. If you are not 100% positive about the question you are going to ask is, say your team will look into getting an answer. Give a timeframe that you will be able to deliver that information and make it happen.

They say there’s no such thing as a stupid question. I’d add, that well thought out questions illuminate the lane you will thrive in.

Take What You Learn & Make A Difference With It

Anastasia