This is indeed a phenomenal question to ask in a work setting, but it’s also a great question to ask in ANY setting when you and someone else are trying to decide what to do. Here’s further explanation from “Decisive” where this question comes from:

“Roger Martin says the ‘What would have to be true?’ question has become the most important ingredient of his strategy work… Martin said, ‘If you think an idea is the wrong way to approach a problem and someone asks you if you think it’s the right way, you’ll reply ‘no’ and defend that answer against all comers. But if someone asks you to figure out what would have to be true for that approach to work, your frame of thinking changes… This subtle shift gives people a way to back away from their beliefs and allow exploration by which they give themselves the opportunity to learn something new.”

If your business partner is strongly opposed to a potential merger, ask her: “What would have to be true for the merger to be the right decision?”

If your son wants to quit the soccer team, ask him: “What would have to be true for staying on the team to be the right decision?”

This question puts everyone on the same team. It’s a thought exercise. It’s productive and creates forward motion. “I’m not saying that this IS the answer, but what conditions would you need to see in order for it to be the right answer hypothetically?” Works like magic.

Source: Decisive: How To Make Better Choices In Life And Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Have you asked this question? How did it go? Do you have advice for how best to ask it? PLEASE RATE! AND WRITE A REVIEW (in the comment box below)!