“’Couldn’t we at least…?’ is the beginning of all progress.” This is what Dean James Ryan says in his 2016 commencement speech at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The speech is called “Good Questions” and it’s well worth a full listen. The next time your team is stuck, either because consensus can’t be reached or because the solutions are not yet clear, start out with “Couldn’t we at least…?” and see where it takes you. As Dean Ryan wisely puts it: “This is the question to ask that will enable you to get unstuck, as they say. It’s what enables you to get past disagreement to some consensus, as in couldn’t we at least agree that we all care about the welfare of students, even if we disagree about strategy? It’s also a way to get started when you’re not entirely sure where you will finish, as in couldn’t we at least begin by making sure that all kids have the chance to come to school healthy and well-fed?”

Source: Dean James Ryan’s 2016 commencement address at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

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)!